Sean Tucker is a special, special player that Syracuse fans have had the privilege of watching for the past two seasons. Although the results as a team have not been pretty for a lot of the team, watching number 34 carry the ball, make defenders miss, and waltz into the endzone is remarkable considering his standing entering his first year.
Coming into the fall way back on the depth chart, COVID opt-outs and injuries accelerated him into a lead role, and he was able to put up modest numbers, four and a half yards per carry, 626 yards, and four touchdowns. But the most intriguing thing about Tucker was his tweeting after every game.
The ever-positive running back liked to compliment himself and the team on Twitter and described his performance as only he could.
Now, even though this tweet is from 2021, the point is still clear. Tucker was becoming a sensation around campus and with his fans on social media. Since the 10-3 season in 2018 and Eric Dungey left campus, Orange fans have had a difficult time rallying around someone on the football team to be “their guy”. It was Tucker time.
The 2021 numbers jump off the page. A Syracuse single-season record 1,496 yards, over six yards per carry, over 250 receiving yards, and most importantly, 14 total touchdowns. His second season started the hype of maybe being drafted after his junior season in 2022, and what evaluators said he needed to improve upon going into this season.
The hype is unreal, and even though fans want him to be considered for the Heisman trophy, that is a long shot at best. 1,751 yards from scrimmage will be hard to top, but with a new, explosive offensive coaching staff, and a very experienced group on the line in front of him, never say never.
It has been a very long time since Syracuse had someone as special as Sean Tucker that fans could watch and cheer on every week in the fall. This moment is special and does not come around often. 2022 could be SU’s best season in years and the main reason why could be the performance of one Sean Tucker.
