Damion Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Damion Fletcher is an American football
running back at Southern Mississippi
.
. He had 1,750 yards and 26 touchdown
s as a junior
when he led them to a 7-4 record. They lost to Meridian Wildcats in the first round of the playoffs. He finished his career with 952 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior
. He was also an All-District selection for two years, as well as a Region 4-5A Offensive Player of the Year, two-time Sun Heralds All-Coast team twice, Second-team All-State by The Clarion-Ledger
. He was also his team's Most Valuable Player
and team captain. He was also a state 5A winner of the triple jump
. A two-star rating by rivals.com
. He was also named All-Southeast Region by PrepStar.
freshman rushing records with 1,388 yards on 276 carries (5.0 yards-per-carry) and 11 touchdowns. He also ranked 11th in the nation in rushing, the first among true freshmen running backs, 25th in all-purpose yards, second in conference rushing, seventh in all-purpose yards and eight in touchdowns scoring. He is also the school's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2002 and the second ranked single-season rusher. He helped the offense finish with over 2,000 yards rushing for the first time since 1987. He was named the team's offensive Player of the Week following his performances against Florida
, UCF, and Tulane
. Also in 2006, he was named a Freshman All-American by The Sporting News. During his sophomore season, he rushed for 1,586 yards on 295 carries (5.4 yards-per-carry) and 15 touchdowns. He also had 29 receptions with 227 yards (7.8 yards-per-carry).
He was awarded the Most Valuable Player award following the 2007 GMAC Bowl
. He was a finalist for the Conerly Trophy
in 2006 and won the award in 2007. Also in 2007, he was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com. He is a Second-team All-American by Athlon Sports. Honored as the toughest running back to bring down by Lindy's
. Named #46 on Top 67 running backs in the nation by Phil Steele's. In 2008, Fletcher saw his numbers hit a slight decline as he ran for 1,313 (6.0 yards-per-carry) on 219 carries,and 10 rushing touchdowns, both the lowest he has had in his three year career as a Golden Eagle. He recorded 33 receptions with 248 yards and 1 touchdown.
He ran for 1,015 yards in the 2009 season
, including 78 yards in a season-ending loss in 2009 New Orleans Bowl
versus the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
. He became only the ninth player in NCAA FBS (Division I-A) history to reach 1,000 yards in all four seasons, finishing his college career with 5,302 yards. Fletcher passed Herschel Walker
(5,259) and LaDainian Tomlinson
(5,263) for eighth on the NCAA's career rushing list.
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back at Southern Mississippi
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles represent The University of Southern Mississippi in Division I athletics. The teams compete in Conference USA....
.
High school career
Fletcher attended Biloxi High SchoolBiloxi High School
Biloxi High School is the only public high school located in the city of Biloxi, Mississippi. It has approximately 1400 students and 100 faculty. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, there were 1201 students. Biloxi High School is the Alma Mater of Fred Haise, a member of the Apollo 13 mission to the...
. He had 1,750 yards and 26 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s as a junior
Eleventh grade
Eleventh Grade is the eleventh, and for some countries final, grade of secondary schools. Students are typically 16 or 17 years of age, depending on the country and the students' birthdays.-Brazil:...
when he led them to a 7-4 record. They lost to Meridian Wildcats in the first round of the playoffs. He finished his career with 952 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
. He was also an All-District selection for two years, as well as a Region 4-5A Offensive Player of the Year, two-time Sun Heralds All-Coast team twice, Second-team All-State by The Clarion-Ledger
The Clarion-Ledger
The Clarion-Ledger is the Pulitzer Prize winning daily newspaper of Jackson, Mississippi. It is the second oldest company in the state of Mississippi and is one of only a few newspapers in the nation that continues to circulate statewide...
. He was also his team's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and team captain. He was also a state 5A winner of the triple jump
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
. A two-star rating by rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
. He was also named All-Southeast Region by PrepStar.
College career
In 2006, he ran for the 13th most yards by a freshman in NCAA history. He set school and conferenceConference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
freshman rushing records with 1,388 yards on 276 carries (5.0 yards-per-carry) and 11 touchdowns. He also ranked 11th in the nation in rushing, the first among true freshmen running backs, 25th in all-purpose yards, second in conference rushing, seventh in all-purpose yards and eight in touchdowns scoring. He is also the school's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2002 and the second ranked single-season rusher. He helped the offense finish with over 2,000 yards rushing for the first time since 1987. He was named the team's offensive Player of the Week following his performances against Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
, UCF, and Tulane
Tulane Green Wave football
The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned...
. Also in 2006, he was named a Freshman All-American by The Sporting News. During his sophomore season, he rushed for 1,586 yards on 295 carries (5.4 yards-per-carry) and 15 touchdowns. He also had 29 receptions with 227 yards (7.8 yards-per-carry).
He was awarded the Most Valuable Player award following the 2007 GMAC Bowl
2007 GMAC Bowl
The 2007 GMAC Bowl was an American college football bowl game. It was part of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season, and was the 9th edition. It was played in January 2007, and featured the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, and the Ohio Bobcats....
. He was a finalist for the Conerly Trophy
Conerly Trophy
The Conerly Trophy or Cellular South Conerly Trophy is an award given annually to the best college football player in the state of Mississippi by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.-Voting:...
in 2006 and won the award in 2007. Also in 2007, he was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com. He is a Second-team All-American by Athlon Sports. Honored as the toughest running back to bring down by Lindy's
Lindy's
Lindy's is a deli and restaurant with two locations in New York City, at 825 7th Avenue and 401 7th Avenue . Lindy's is best known for its original incarnation which opened in 1921 on Broadway...
. Named #46 on Top 67 running backs in the nation by Phil Steele's. In 2008, Fletcher saw his numbers hit a slight decline as he ran for 1,313 (6.0 yards-per-carry) on 219 carries,and 10 rushing touchdowns, both the lowest he has had in his three year career as a Golden Eagle. He recorded 33 receptions with 248 yards and 1 touchdown.
He ran for 1,015 yards in the 2009 season
2009 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team
The 2009 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented The University of Southern Mississippi in the college football season of 2009–2010. The team's head coach was Larry Fedora, who was in his second year at Southern Miss. They played their home games at M.M...
, including 78 yards in a season-ending loss in 2009 New Orleans Bowl
2009 New Orleans Bowl
The 2009 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl was the ninth edition of the bowl. The game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, December 20, 2009. The game was televised live on ESPN...
versus the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
2009 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team
The 2009 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football for the 2009 season. Middle Tennessee competed as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The team...
. He became only the ninth player in NCAA FBS (Division I-A) history to reach 1,000 yards in all four seasons, finishing his college career with 5,302 yards. Fletcher passed Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
(5,259) and LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.Tomlinson, often referred to by his initials, L...
(5,263) for eighth on the NCAA's career rushing list.
Legal Trouble
Damion was arrested along with teammate Brennan Houston on February 15, 2009; Fletcher was discharging a weapon within city limits. The gunfire was reported to be in an apartment complex popular with Southern Mississippi football players. The handgun, which Fletcher had a permit for, was recovered at the apartment complex. Fletcher pleaded guilty to firing a gun within city limits and was sentenced to six months probationProbation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
.
College statistics
| Year | Att. Carry (American football) In American football, a carry is a statistical term equivalent to a single rushing play. The term is typically used in reference to "yards per carry," meaning yards per attempt rushing the ball. Any offensive player who performs a carry is known as a ballcarrier, regardless of position.... |
Yards | Avg. | TD Touchdown A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:... |
Rec. Reception (American football) In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving... |
Yds. | Avg. | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 276 | 1,388 | 5.0 | 11 | 18 | 142 | 7.9 | 0 |
| 2007 | 295 | 1,586 | 5.4 | 15 | 29 | 227 | 7.8 | 0 |
| 2008 | 219 | 1,313 | 6.0 | 10 | 33 | 248 | 7.5 | 1 |
| 2009 | 219 | 1,015 | 4.6 | 8 | 29 | 289 | 10.0 | 1 |
| Total | 1009 | 5,302 | 5.3 | 44 | 109 | 906 | 8.3 | 2 |