Syracuse football running back Sean Tucker eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards so far in the 2021 campaign this past Saturday afternoon as the Orange (4-4, 1-3) managed a thrilling victory over Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.
With four games remaining in the 2021 regular season, Tucker is getting buzz as a Heisman Trophy contender, and he also has a realistic chance at breaking the single-season record for rushing yards in ‘Cuse program history.
Tucker, in the team’s win against the Hokies, carried the ball 20 times for 112 yards and a rushing touchdown. On the year, he now has 1,060 rushing yards, which ranks No. 1 across the entire country, according to statistics on ncaa.com.
Good morning, #OrangeNation.@seantucker2020 is now the nation’s leading rusher. pic.twitter.com/n5uGVTD7YU
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) October 24, 2021
He’s also second nationally in all-purpose yards a game, and Tucker checks in at No. 2 nationwide in rushing yards per contest. Finally, Tucker’s 10 rushing touchdowns put him in a tie for 10th place nationally at his juncture. Pretty incredible stuff.
Syracuse football RB Sean Tucker could set Orange records in 2021.
According to a press release on cuse.com, Orange legendary running back Joe Morris has the most rushing yards in any one season on the Hill, as he compiled 1,372 in 1979.
Assuming that Tucker continues at his current pace, he is absolutely going to break Morris’ team record, which would prove an incredible accomplishment.
When he attained 112 rushing yards versus Virginia Tech, that gave Tucker at least 100 yards on the ground for the sixth game in a row, which is a Syracuse football record, cuse.com says.
For all that he’s done so far in 2021, it’s no wonder that some experts believe Tucker should be in the conversation for the Heisman Trophy.
Per an article by SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister, ESPN college football analyst Trevor Matich listed his top-four Heisman Trophy contenders at this point in 2021 during an episode of SportsCenter this past Sunday morning.
According to McAllister, Tucker made the cut, along with Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr., Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis and Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral.
Now, I’m the first to acknowledge that part of the issue for Tucker is that his ‘Cuse squad really needs to have a winning record for him to likely be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
At 4-4, Syracuse football has four encounters remaining in the 2021 regular stanza. Next up for the Orange is long-time rival Boston College, in an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown on the Hill this coming Saturday afternoon.
A victory over the Eagles would prove a good first step toward Syracuse football cementing a winning record in 2021, while hopefully clinching a post-season bowl berth down the road and giving Tucker a realistic shot at the Heisman Trophy.