NFL news 2024, Mason Fletcher big hit video for University of Cincinnati vs West Virginia, son of AFL legend Dustin

The son of AFL legend Dustin Fletcher has left commentators in America in awe during a college football game.

Mason Fletcher, 24, opted not to follow in his famous father's footsteps and pursue a career in Australian football, where he could have gone to Essendon as a father-son selection in 2019 after finishing high school.

Instead the towering redhead moved to the states where he took up a scholarship with the University of Cincinnati in 2020.

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Now in his senior year, Fletcher should well and truly be in the sights of NFL scouts ahead of next year's draft.

And while he's a punter by trade, the 201-centimetre beanpole has shown he's no pushover in defence and has much more to offer a team.

Mason Fletcher impressed America with a big hit in college football. Twitter

During Sunday's college game he punted the ball towards the opposition West Virginia, and it was snaffled up by returner Preston Fox who managed to dodge a number of Cincinnati defenders.

The punt returner streaked away down the sideline and looked like he might go all the way, until the Aussie who had kicked the ball flew cross-field and smashed Fox over the touchline.

The massive hit drew the ire of West Virginia players who tried to start a scuffle, but the play left commentators cheering.

"Fletcher making the tackle on the outside... these Australian guys, they play that Australian rules football, right?" one commentator said.

"(It's) pretty much like punting the ball to each other, (so) they all become really good punters (and) it's a physical sport."

Fletcher has become known as one of the best punters in college football and was named the AAC First Team punter in 2022.

His younger brother, Max, moved from Arkansas to join Mason at Cincinnati this year.

Following the game Fletcher tweeted, Best fans in the country... Can never thank this city enough for what it's done for me".

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