Walter Fletcher (running back)

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Walter Fletcher
Fletcher with the Montreal Alouettes in 2022
Profile
PositionRunning back
Personal information
Born (1996-12-17) December 17, 1996 (age 28)
Cheverly, Maryland, U.S.
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight202 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High schoolCentennial High School
CollegeEdinboro, Ball State
Career history
2021–2022Edmonton Elks
2022–2024Montreal Alouettes
Awards and highlights
Career CFL statistics
Rushing attempts351
Rushing yards1,818
Rushing TDs5
Receptions145
Receiving yards1,388
Receiving TDs4
Stats at CFL.ca

Walter Charles Fletcher (born December 17, 1996) is an American professional football running back. He most recently played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[1] Fletcher played college football at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Ball State. He made his professional football debut in 2021 as a member of the Edmonton Elks.

Early life

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Walter Fletcher was raised in Ellicott City, Maryland, and attended Centennial High School, where he became a three-year varsity starter at running back. As a senior in 2014, he rushed for 1,736 yards and 23 touchdowns, earning First Team All-Howard County honors.[2]

Throughout his high school career, Fletcher established multiple program rushing records, including the single-game mark of 306 rushing yards, as well as school records for single-season rushing yards (1,736), single-season rushing touchdowns (25), and career rushing yards (2,955).[3]

Despite his production, Fletcher received no scholarship offers out of high school. After graduation, he attended East Coast Prep in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, a postgraduate football program where he competed in a three-month season to increase recruiting exposure.

He later enrolled at Randolph–Macon College, an NCAA Division III program, before transferring to Edinboro University for the fall 2015 semester, joining the football team as a walk-on.

College career

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At Edinboro, Fletcher developed into one of the most productive running backs in program history. In 2017, he rushed for a school-record 1,740 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, adding three receiving touchdowns for 21 total scores. His 1,740 rushing yards ranked second nationally in NCAA Division II and fifth all-time in PSAC single-season history.[4]

During the 2017 season, Fletcher recorded eight 100-yard rushing games and set Edinboro’s single-game rushing record with 328 yards, scoring four touchdowns in that performance.[5] He also posted the most 200-yard games in a season in school history (4).

Following the season, Fletcher was named the 2017 PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Edinboro player to earn the honor since Trevor Harris in 2008.[6][7] He finished his Edinboro career ranked third in school history in career rushing yards and second in career rushing touchdowns.

With one year of eligibility remaining, Fletcher transferred to Ball State University as a graduate student for the 2019 season. At Ball State, he totaled 1,032 all-purpose yards, including 726 rushing yards on 132 carries (5.5 yards per carry), and added 26 receptions for 306 yards and two touchdowns.[8]

In his Division I debut against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium, Fletcher scored on a 45-yard reception.[9] He finished the season as Ball State’s second-leading rusher and earned All-MAC Honorable Mention recognition from Pro Football Focus (PFF).[10]

Professional career

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Edmonton Elks

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After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft Fletcher signed with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on December 31, 2020.[11] During the 2021 season Fletcher played in 11 games and carried the ball 67 times for 302 yards. He also caught 22 passes for 177 yards. Fletcher was selected as one of the Elk players to debut the team's new uniform designs for the 2022 season.[12]

Montreal Alouettes

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On June 14, 2022, Fletcher was traded to the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 CFL Draft.[13] That season, he emerged as a versatile dual-threat contributor for Montreal’s backfield, appearing in 14 games and totalled 486 rushing yards and 353 receiving yards.[14]

Fletcher played a rotational role during the 2023 campaign, which culminated in the franchise winning the 110th Grey Cup.[15]

In 2024, Fletcher delivered the best season of his career, helping Montreal finish with a 12–5-1 record and emerge as one of the league’s top dual-threat running backs.[16] Fletcher led the CFL in yards after catch (YAC) with 626, ranked fourth in missed tackles forced (54), tied for third in 20-yard rushes (6), and finished fourth in yards from scrimmage (1,446). He also led all CFL running backs in receiving yards (682).[17]

Following the season, Fletcher signed a two-year contract extension with Montreal.[18]

Fletcher was with the team in training camp in 2025, but was part of the final cuts on May 31, 2025.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Guskey, Jordan (May 30, 2021). "5 Questions: Catching up with Walter Fletcher ahead of his 1st season in the Canadian Football League". The Star Press. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Howard County football: All-County teams announced". Baltimore Sun. December 15, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  3. ^ "Howard County football: All-Decade Offense". Baltimore Sun. November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  4. ^ "Walter Fletcher Named to Associated Press Division II All-America Team". Edinboro Athletics. December 14, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  5. ^ "Fletcher's record rushing day". Erie Times-News. October 20, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  6. ^ "Edinboro's Fletcher Named PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year". Edinboro Athletics. November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  7. ^ "Edinboro's Fletcher Claims PSAC Football Western Division Athlete of the Year Recognition; All-Conference Teams Released". PSAC Sports. November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  8. ^ "Top Moments from 2019 Football Season". Ball State Athletics. April 2, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  9. ^ "Penix leads Indiana past Ball State in first start". Reuters. August 31, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  10. ^ "2019 PFF All-MAC Team". Pro Football Focus. December 3, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  11. ^ "Former Edinboro All-American Walter Fletcher Signing with CFL's Edmonton Football Team". WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. January 1, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  12. ^ "'Everything pops': Elks show off new jerseys with a vintage touch". Edmonton. May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  13. ^ "Alouettes trade for RB Walter Fletcher". CFL.ca. June 14, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  14. ^ "Montreal Alouettes re-sign RB Walter Fletcher". 3DownNation. February 15, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  15. ^ "Au septième ciel: Alouettes win the 110th Grey Cup". CFL.ca. November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  16. ^ "Roles reversed: defending champion Alouettes host Argonauts in East Final rematch". TSN. October 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  17. ^ "Stats Rewind: Top performers at every position in 2024". CFL.ca. December 29, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  18. ^ "Alouettes sign running back Walter Fletcher to two-year extension". TSN. December 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  19. ^ "Alouettes cut 20 players". Montreal Alouettes. May 31, 2025.
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