Mario Pratcher

Position:
WR
Ht./Wt.:
6-4 / 211
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Memphis, TN

Career Summary: A three-year letterwinner who suffered several injury setbacks during his career...Was predicted as a starter prior to the start of the 2003 season, but suffered a broken collarbone in fall camp, forcing him to miss the first five contests...Led the receiving corps that season, averaging 16.5 yards per catch...Hauled in a 50-yard pass in the New Orleans Bowl, which was the second-longest reception in the bowl's history...Had his first career touchdown catch against Houston...Finished the 2003 season with 165 yards and one TD on 10 receptions...Played all 12 games in 2004...Logged a career-high 54-yard reception versus Chattanooga...Consistent contributor who finished 2004 with 15 catches for 185 yards...Was poised to be one of the leaders on the receiving corps heading into the 2005 season...Tore ligaments in his knee during a scrimmage in late August and was sidelined for the remainder of the year...Returned in 2006 and started nine of the 10 games he played.

Honors: Named the co-MVP of the 2005 Blue-Gray game...Received one of the Chris Faros Most Improved Awards in spring `05.

2006 Highlights: Started the first six games of the season, but was sidelined for the Tulsa and Marshall games with soreness in his knee...Returned against USM and started the final three games...Caught an 11-yard pass against Ole Miss...Completed a 26-yard pass to QB Martin Hankins for a touchdown versus Chattanooga...Caught a career-high five passes for 44 yards against East Carolina...Also logged multiple receptions with three each against ASU and UCF...Completed a 15-yard pass to Hankins against UCF.

2005: Tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee while running a route at a scrimmage on August 30...Had surgery on Sept. 9 and missed the entire 2005 season...Returned in the spring, but was limited to non-contact drills...Is a play-maker who is expected to help anchor the receiving corps in 2006.

2004: Helped the Tigers to a season-opening win over Ole Miss with two pass receptions for 16 yards...Helped break open the Chattanooga contest with a 54-yard pass reception in the third period, which marked his longest pass reception of the season...Long catch also marked his career high for the Tigers...Grabbed two passes for 41 yards in the UAB contest...Had a long reception of 30 yards against the Blazers...Caught one pass for five yards in the Houston contest...Had one pass reception for nine yards in the Memphis win over Tulane...Tallied one pass reception in the Cincinnati game...Caught one pass for 34 yards in the Tigers' nationally-televised contest against Louisville...Caught one pass for three yards in the win over Southern Miss...Grabbed two passes for nine yards in the East Carolina contest...Had an 11-yard pass reception in the U of M's victory over USF at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa...Caught a nine-yard pass for a first down that set up a touchdown in the first quarter of the GMAC Bowl...Finished the 2004 season with 15 pass receptions for 185 yards...Averaged 15.4 yards per reception...Had a tremendous spring workout and was named the co-MVP of the Blue-Gray Game after catching five passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns...Also received one of the Chris Faros Most Improved Player Awards during the spring.

2003: Was expected to be a starter by the season opener, but suffered a broken collarbone in fall camp and missed the first five games of the season...Returned to practice the week prior to the UAB game, but did not see action...Caught his first career pass against Mississippi State University, grabbing a seven-yard pass from Danny Wimprine for a key first down...Was highly involved in the offense in the Tiger victory over Houston...Caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Danny Wimprine, marking his first career touchdown reception...Caught one pass for eight yards in the Tiger victory over Tulane...Registered two pass receptions for 23 yards in the Memphis win over East Carolina...Had one pass reception for 11 yards in the victory over Louisville...Caught two passes for 18 yards against Cincinnati...Had two pass receptions for 62 yards in the 2003 New Orleans Bowl...Caught a 50-yard bomb from Wimprine against North Texas, which ranked as the second-longest pass reception in the bowl's history...Finished the season with 10 catches for 165 yards and one touchdown...Averaged 16.5 yards per catch to lead all receivers.

2002: Sat out during the 2002 season while concentrating on academic work.

Prep: Was a two-year starter at wide receiver at Trezevant High in Memphis for Coach Larry Franklin...Named to the Associated Press All-State team as a receiver in 2001...Helped Trezevant to a 6-4 record in 2001 and a second-place tie in Region 8-3A...Caught 23 passes for 585 yards and nine touchdowns in 2001, which led Region 8-3A...Averaged 25.4 yards per reception in 2001 and 7.8 yards per return as the punt returner...As a defensive back, had two pass interceptions in 2001 which he returned for 86 yards...Was an All-Region 8-4A selection in 2000 as a receiver...Had 29 catches for 418 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior...Was ranked 14th in Region 8-4A in scoring with 48 points as a junior...Set Trezevant High records for most career touchdowns with 25, most receiving yards in a game with 165 and most career receptions with 74...Also lettered in basketball and baseball.

Personal: Mario Pratcher is the son of Marvin Jones and Vearlie Pratcher...Born March 25, 1983, in Memphis, Tenn.

PRATCHER'S STATISTICSReceiving       G/S No  Yds Avg Tds LG2003    8/0 10  165 16.5    1   502004    12/0    15  185 12.3    0   542006    10/9    14  97  6.9 0   14Totals  30/9    39  447 11.5    1   54

PRATCHER'S CAREER HIGHSMost Pass Receptions/Game: 5 vs East Carolina (`06)Most Yards Receiving/Game: 62 vs North Texas (`03)Most Touchdown Receptions/Game: 1 vs Houston (`03)Longest Pass Reception/Game: 54 vs Chattanooga (`04)