Syracuse Football: Why RB Sean Tucker would be a perfect choice for 44

Last season was admittedly hard to watch at times as the Syracuse football team struggled. However, one bright spot for me was watching one name emerge and made me excited to watch and that was Syracuse football running back Sean Tucker. So therefore I was excited to see the announcement that he was named to the Doak Walker Watch List.

Last season, when Syracuse’s top two options (Abdul Adams and Jarveon Howard) at running back opted out for the season, Sean Tucker was not even hardly mentioned on the depth chart. Yet as the season progressed, Sean and Cooper Lutz stepped up and had fans excited. This despite the fact that the offensive line had injury issues and unfortunately Florida transfer Chris Bleich was forced to sit out due to transfer rules despite an appeal to play immediately that was denied.

Watching Sean play last season brought me back to my youth when I would wonder if a player who played like that would be a perfect fit to wear the 44. I know…I know…44 is retired and nobody can wear it again and blah blah blah.

Sorry, but I loved the tradition of handing the 44 jersey to a top-notch player and watching him wear it on the field while we fans regaled in the stories of the legacy of the number knowing that player may not achieve what the greats did but still brought pride to the Orange uniform. The university has stated through spokespeople that it could return for an exceptional athlete and I consider Sean’s achievements last season to be exceptional.

Syracuse football running back Sean Tucker is primed for a special 2021 season.

By the way, my disagreeing with the retiring of 44 is not in any way a slight to those who wore that number but because that number on the field added excitement to a young Chuck Fiello and is a major reason I cared about the football program and bleed Orange today.

For instance, did you know despite not even being slotted by many to be the starter last season, according to the Cuse official site on his bio page, Tucker still finished second in most yards per game (69.9) for a freshman (behind only Joe Morris) and third-most yards in a single season (626) for a freshman (behind Delone Carter and Joe Morris)?

Oddly enough, he did also remind me oftentimes of my favorite SU RB who never wore 44 and that was the man with the record, Joe Morris. I LOVED watching Joe Morris in Orange…I am 48 and I can still remember watching him play and the excitement when he carried the ball. I had that same feeling last season watching Tucker play and I am so excited to see how he responds in his sophomore season.

Congratulations to Syracuse football running back Sean Tucker to be named to the Doak Walker Watch List. If his 2021 season is as memorable as his 2020 season, and he wishes to wear it, I do hope this would be a consideration. I contend no better player would be fitting of the honor than Sean Tucker and I would be like a kid on Christmas morning who opened that one gift they really asked for if he wore it.

GO ORANGE!