The son of 400-game Essendon legend Dustin Fletcher has turned heads in the United States after a physical play in a college football game.

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Mason Fletcher, a promising punter for the University of Cincinnati, booted the ball to the opposition West Virginia during their matchup on Sunday morning (AEDT), and the Mountaineers’ punt returner made solid ground on his return.

However, he was stopped in his tracks by Fletcher, who committed a brutal — but fair — hit to ensure the Bearcats didn’t concede a score, and it wasn’t lost on the viewers.

“Fletcher making the tackle on the outside — these Australian guys, they play that Australian Rules football, right?” the broadcast said.

“(It’s) pretty much like punting the ball to each other, (so) they all become really good punters — it’s a physical sport.”

The Bearcats ultimately lost 31-24 to the Mountaineers, falling to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

Fletcher thanked Cincinnati supporters after the game, posting to X: “Best fans in the country. Can never thank this city enough for what it’s done for me.”

A college senior this year, Fletcher has launched 29 punts in his final college football season, for an average length of 45.3 yards and a season-long of 62 yards.

In May 2020, Fletcher accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Cincinnati after previously passing up the 2019 AFL national draft, having formerly played with the Calder Cannons.

In 2022, Fletcher set Bearcats and American Athletic Conference all-time records with a staggering 84-yard punt — he finished as a First Team AAC member.

This year, he was joined at the University of Cincinnati by younger brother Max, who had previously punted with Arkansas.

Unsurprisingly, playing behind Mason, the younger Fletcher hasn’t punted in a Bearcats game this year following a pair of seasons with the Razorbacks. His longest 2023 punt travelled 71 yards.

Albeit with Mason seemingly set to try his luck in the NFL next year, the road to a starting job in Cincinnati is being paved for Max.