Fletcher Has Finally Worked Way Into Hearts of Razorback Fans

Booming punts, fake field goals for first down, bond with fellow special teams players has kicker looking more at home

Author:
Kent Smith
Updated:
Oct 21, 2023 3:21 AM EDT
Original:
Oct 16, 2023

In this story:

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Saturday against Alabama Max Fletcher learned what it was like to get a taste of American stardom. In a game that was headed south fast, his monster punts were the one weapon slowing the Tide for the better part of two quarters.

Fletcher was already having a beast of a game having punted four times with each flipping the field for roughly 50 yards, but it was the 70-yard ruby style kick that dug a struggling offense out of a hole deep on its own end of the field that turned him into a star Hog fans couldn't help but notice.

It was such a dominating performance that even the media felt obligated to ask about Fletcher. Typically, coaches aren't exactly enthused to be talking about the punter after the game, but Pittman was thrilled to spend a minute spouting about the sophomore kicker.

"He was incredible," Pittman said. "On the fourth and… Nah, I’m not gonna talk about it, but because I might want to do it again, but he rugbyed well and he kicked well. He was outstanding. I told him on the sideline coming off, I said, 'You're the reason we're in this game. You're the reason this happened. You're the reason.' I mean, it is. He flipped the field and man. Wasn't he good? He was. Our specialists are kicking and punting as good as anybody in the country."

A year ago life was rather difficult. Fletcher found himself dropped into Northwest Arkansas thousands of miles from his family in Australia just before the season started after being plucked away from the Prokick Australia program. By the time the first game rolled around, he was the starting punter over fan favorite Reid Bauer. By the second weekend in October, Bauer was handling punting duties as the Australian was left to figure out life and the ins and outs of American football.

Once 2023 rolled around, he had done just that. The game and the pressure both adjusted into a place of comfort for Fletcher as he settled into an elite kicking room anchored by fellow kicker Cam Little.

"It was all new to him because he had come, like I said in the past, a totally foreign country thousands of miles away," Little said of when Fletcher first arrived last season. "So it was kinda hard for him to develop football stuff, meeting friends off the field, meeting other guys on the football team, in such a short amount of time before he eventually stated playing on the field, so it's been nice to kinda spend another offseason with those guys, Eli [Stein] and Max together."

It's been a big few weeks for Fletcher and Little. Not only has the Aussie been booming the ball on punts, but against LSU, he was able to run for a first down as Little's holder on a fake field goal attempt. Because of the offensive struggles, it didn't set up a touchdown, but it definitely put Fletcher on the radar and gave him reason to get excited about his role in the game.

He's also been an integral part of why Little has been able to hit all four of his 50+ yard field goal attempts over the past three weeks. Without a perfect hold, all those wow moment field goals that have NFL executives drooling wouldn't happen.

"I feel like our operation's rolling right now and very thankful for that," Little said. "We've built a bond we have because off the field, that bond travels on the field. It kinda gets our timing down and builds trust in one another, so definitely thankful for those guys off the field and on the field because we've built a tight relationship together."

Needless to say, Fletcher has found his groove. He's finally won the hearts of Razorback fans while developing a strong relationship with the guys in his position group, which makes the 9,220 miles he is away from home just a little more bearable.