Sean Tucker Declares For NFL Draft, Opts Out of Bowl Game

Syracuse football’s star running back is turning pro.

Mike McAllister | Dec 17, 2022

Sean Tucker Declares For NFL Draft, Opts Out of Bowl Game /

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Syracuse Orange

Syracuse star running back Sean Tucker is headed to the NFL and will not play in the Pinstripe Bowl, he announced on Instagram. Tucker leaves the Orange with 3,182 rushing yards (third all time in program history) and 27 rushing touchdowns. He set the single season rushing yards record in 2021 with 1,496 yards.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL since I was in elementary school,” Tucker said in the Instagram post. “In the fifth grade, my dad committed to getting me there and we’ve been on a mission ever since. Well, today we move another step closer. I’m happy to announce I will be entering the 2023 NFL Draft.

“I’ve also decided to opt out of the upcoming bowl game, but I plan to attend, cheering my team on to victory from the sidelines. First, let me thank God for giving me my abilities and keeping me healthy. To my dad, thanks for all your sacrifices and guidance to get me to this point. Thanks to my mom and brother for your love and support.

“To my family, friends, my Syracuse family, coach Harper and my Calvert Hall family thanks for all your support and making my college experience a good one.”

Tucker signed with Syracuse as part of the Orange's 2020 recruiting class out of Calvert Hall College in Maryland. He picked SU over offers from Rutgers, Wisconsin and several non power five opportunities. Tucker quickly established himself as a playmaker during his true freshman season, becoming the starter just four games in. Tucker ran for 626 yards, the third most for a true freshman at SU.

The 2021 campaign was Tucker's breakout year on the national stage. He set the single season rushing record at Syracuse with 1,496 yards, which finished sixth in the nation. He was a near consensus All American for his tremendous season, which set expectations extraordinarily high for 2022.

While the team enjoyed more success this season, Tucker's productivity took a slight step back. He still had a tremendous year, rushing for 1,060 yards, averaging over five yards per carry and rushing for 11 touchdowns. Tucker will not focus on the professional ranks will be one of the most discussed running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft class.

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Published Dec 17, 2022

MIKE MCALLISTER

Title: Publisher All Syracuse Education: Roberts Wesleyan College Location: Syracuse, New York Expertise: Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting. EXPERIENCE Mike McAllister has been covering Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting for more than a decade. Mike's career started with his own free blog as a way to vent following sporting events. Shortly thereafter, a network of basketball sites called Coast 2 Coast Hoops asked him to run their Syracuse site. That site was called Nation of Orange, and Mike quickly established it as a go-to for Syracuse fans. After running Nation of Orange for several months, a position with the Syracuse site on the Scout network became available. After one year as the recruiting expert with Cuse Nation, he was named the publisher. Mike oversaw the transition from Scout to 247Sports, and ran the site on that network for years. Presented with the opportunity to join one of the biggest names in the sports journalism industry, Sports Illustrated, Mike jumped at the chance. All Syracuse was started from scratch by Mike and the Fan Nation team. It has now become a staple for Orange fans of various sports. Mike has broken news on recruiting, Syracuse basketball and football team information and has established himself as the top recruiting inside in the market. He has appeared on local radio shows, television broadcasts, national radio shows and much more. Mr. McAllister has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Information Management from Roberts Wesleyan College.