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Opponent's SPOTLIGHT   Jamar Fletcher

By Joshua Mason

Daily Bruin Contributor

Matchups like this one don’t come around that often: the nation’s best cover-cornerback versus the nation’s most explosive receiver. Thorpe Award-winner versus Biletnikoff finalist. First-team All-American versus first-team All-American. Best of the Big 10 versus best of the Pac-10. The list of comparisons continues for quite possibly the most anticipated matchup of future stars this bowl season: Wisconsin’s Jamar Fletcher versus UCLA’s Freddie Mitchell.

Only a junior, Fletcher has already reached the status of superstar in the Big 10 conference. Like Mitchell, Fletcher’s exceptional athleticism sets him apart from the rest.

Both Fletcher and Mitchell excelled as high school quarterbacks, and it was this offensive orientation that taught Fletcher to be aware of passing schemes and quarterback reads. A better awareness of offensive vision is an advantage to Fletcher at the corner, and likely the reason for his ability to anticipate passes so well.

“He has a better understanding of the game, which allows him to pick up on things that others do not,” Wisconsin assistant coach Tim Davis said in a phone interview. “I personally think he’s the best defensive back in the country right now.”

In only three seasons, Fletcher has already amassed 20 interceptions, leading the nation in his freshman campaign with seven picks. He has finished sixth and fifth in the NCAA in interceptions the last two seasons.

The fact that Fletcher even managed to come up with six picks this season was impressive because he was suspended for three nonconference games due to his involvement with the team’s shoe scandal earlier in the year. The suspension games included two of Wisconsin’s weakest opponents, Western Michigan and Cincinnati, the teams Fletcher would likely have had the most success against.

  Wisconsin Sports Info Jamar Fletcher of Wisconsin outruns wide receiver Marshaun Tucker of Oregon. Fletcher has 20 interceptions in three seasons. What’s even more impressive about the number of Fletcher interceptions is the fact that most quarterbacks are wary of throwing to Fletcher’s side.

It’s really no wonder teams don’t throw in the same direction as the junior corner. In his three seasons as a starter, Fletcher hasn’t allowed a touchdown pass in man-to-man coverage. He rarely allows his opponent to even catch the ball. Against Michigan’s David Terrell, Fletcher shut down the junior by limiting him to one catch for 22 yards in the 33 plays that he was covering him.

Fletcher also stifled Heisman candidate and Purdue quarterback Drew Brees, who learned the hard way, getting picked off twice by Fletcher in consecutive seasons. This year, Brees only passed Fletcher’s way three times out of 43 passes.

“If he’s on his game, and playing great coverage, then too many balls shouldn’t be going in his direction,” UCLA receivers coach Ron Caragher said. “He has a great knack for knowing what the offense is going to do, and anticipates things like a great corner does.”

What’s even more lethal is what Fletcher does when balls do go in his direction.

Though feared as an exceptional cover-corner, Fletcher also has a knack for working his way into the end zone. In his three collegiate seasons, he has amassed an unreal Big 10 record of 439 yards in interception returns, including a conference-record five returns for a touchdown. He could have made it six this season, but an 87-yard return at Indiana came just short of the goal line.

Another one of those notorious returns was a 46-yard interception run against the Bruins two years ago in the Rose Bowl. Then only a freshman, Fletcher’s return was the winning score of the game.

This unique ability to turn a defense into an offense has even prompted head coach Barry Alvarez to consider using him in the offensive playbook at points this season.

“He has superb hands,” Alvarez said earlier in the season. “Once he has the ball in his hands, he has a great feel for his blockers and can get the ball up the field.”

“It’s an honor to be able to compete against a great defensive back like that,” said Mitchell, a player not unfamiliar with praise for his own versatility and physical talents. “It’s kind of like playing against Deion Sanders – you have to respect him.”

There is no denying the fact that the Dec. 29 matchup will be one of monumental proportion. On paper, Fletcher and Mitchell stack up well.

“Fletcher is always going to be matched up with the opponent’s best receiver,” Alvarez said. “He always answers that call.”

“Fletcher’s a heck of a football player,” UCLA head coach Bob Toledo added. “I know I voted for him as an All-American defensive back, and I guess the game will decide who the best All-American is.”

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