The Walter Fletcher Story:
Determined, Underrated and Overlooked
Early Years:
The Underrated Beginning
Walter finished 1st in Howard County with 1,753 rushing yards and 25 total touchdowns in 2013. He ran for a season high of 306 yards against Marriotts Ridge.
In high school, Walter excelled on the field. During his senior year, he set multiple school records and led Howard County in rushing yards and touchdowns, earning All County and All State honors.
Even with his production, he faced an uphill battle with no scholarship offers. Walter sent more than sixty emails to colleges and received little to no interest. Undeterred, he enrolled at East Coast Prep in Great Barrington Massachusetts, determined to extend his playing career.
Even after three months of post grad training and leading the team statistically, Division I and Division II programs still overlooked him.
The College Grind:
Division-III to D-II Walk-On
Walter’s next step led him to Randolph Macon College, a Division III program, where he spent one semester before deciding to take a calculated risk. He transferred to Edinboro University, walking on to the Division II football team ahead of the 2015 fall season.
Walter entered training camp as the fifth string running back, fully aware of the uphill climb in front of him. Rather than becoming discouraged, he stayed patient, continued to work, and focused on earning every opportunity available. Understanding the depth chart and the long term opportunity, Walter approached his position coach about redshirting. The staff agreed it was the right decision, a move that ultimately positioned him for future success.
When Justin Lustig was named the new head coach, Walter recognized that a real opportunity had opened. Spring ball became his proving ground. He attacked the 2016 offseason with purpose, approaching every rep with intention and urgency. His work paid off, earning him the starting running back role heading into the fall.
In his first game as a collegiate starter, Walter rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns. His second score sealed the game with a late game winning touchdown against St. Joseph’s College. Following the season, he was named Second Team All PSAC.
Hard Work Pays Off:
Determination
The 2017 season became Walter’s breakout year. He committed fully to his development, spending the off season training with intent in the weight room and on the field. That summer, he invested in his own progress, ordering training equipment and holding himself to a higher standard. When training camp arrived, he was a different athlete both physically and mentally, determined to take the next step.
The work showed up in the fall. Walter finished the season with 1,740 rushing yards, averaging 158.2 yards per game, ranking second in Division II. He earned First Team All PSAC honors and was named Second Team AP All American, finishing the season with 21 total touchdowns. Along the way, he recorded four 200 yard rushing performances, including back to back 200 yard games highlighted by an upset win over then 17th ranked Slippery Rock.
Consistency in the Work:
The Next Step
The 2018 season was about consistency. Walter wanted to prove that his work ethic and preparation were not a one year surge, but a standard. He rushed for 1,624 yards and 17 touchdowns, finishing fourth in Division II in rushing and totaling 18 touchdowns on the season.
Along the way, he continued to raise the bar. Walter became the first player in Edinboro history to record 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same game against Gannon. He also set a school record with 328 rushing yards on just 21 carries against Seton Hill. His performance earned him PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Following the season, with one year of eligibility remaining and his degree set to be completed in 2019, Walter began to consider whether transferring could be the next step in his journey.
From No Offers to Division I:
The Mindset Behind DUO
In 2018, while sitting with his family, Walter came up with three words that captured everything he had been through: Determined, Underrated, and Overlooked.
Coming out of high school with no offers, he took the long road. He battled through prep school, transferred from Division III to a walk on at Division II, and eventually became an All American and Player of the Year. Every setback became fuel and those three words evolved from motivation into his identity.
With one year of eligibility still available, Walter chose to bet on himself again and chase the dream of competing at the Division I level. That belief was rewarded when Ball State offered him a full scholarship, opening the door for him to play Division I football and earn his masters degree.
New Levels:
Division I and Beyond
With one year to prove himself, Walter arrived at Ball State in the summer of 2019 determined to show he belonged. In his first Division I game at Lucas Oil Stadium against Indiana University, Walter caught a short five yard checkdown and turned it into a forty five yard touchdown. In that moment, he knew he belonged at the Division I level.
He finished his lone season with more than one thousand all purpose yards and seven touchdowns, sharing the backfield with Caleb Huntley and making an immediate impact in the Mid American Conference.
While finishing his Masters in Athletic Coaching Education, Walter continued to train through the uncertainty of the Covid 19 pandemic. Despite NFL interest, the cancellation of his Pro Day left him undrafted but far from defeated.
The Professional Stage:
A Dream Realized
Refusing to let opportunity slip away, Walter stayed ready. While training athletes in Columbia, he kept sharpening his craft and believing his moment would come. That moment arrived when Edinboro alum Trevor Harris reached out with a life changing question: “Do you want to play in the CFL?” Walter did not blink. The answer was yes. Days later in December 2020, the Edmonton Elks called and he signed his first professional contract.
In May, Walter headed to Canada fully aware of the uphill battle ahead after being away from football for more than a year. He earned a spot on the initial active roster before being shifted to the practice roster for three weeks. Staying patient and prepared, his opportunity finally came against the Montreal Alouettes where he contributed on special teams and eventually started the final four games of the season. His impact was clear and Edmonton exercised his second year option.
Living the Dream:
A Champion
Walter was unexpectedly traded during the first week of his second season in 2022, landing with the Montreal Alouettes. The move came as a shock, but it also presented an opportunity, a chance to be closer to home and join a team that genuinely needed a playmaker at running back. Walter made the most of it, thriving in his new role and producing at a high level throughout the season. His performance earned him a one year contract extension and solidified his reputation as a reliable and dynamic playmaker in the CFL.
In 2023, Walter reached a career milestone as the Montreal Alouettes captured the 110th Grey Cup, his first championship of his entire football career. Following the victory, he signed a one year deal to become the teams full time starter and he delivered the best season of his career.
It Was All Worth It:
Hard Work Pays Off
Concluding his first year as a full-time starter. Walter led the CFL in yards after catch, totaled more than 1,400 all purpose yards, and scored 7 total touchdowns. Walter cemented himself as one of the CFL’s premier dual threat running backs. He led all running backs in receiving yards and receptions. His breakout campaign earned him a two year contract extension and confirmed his place as a dynamic and reliable playmaker in the CFL.