Syracuse Football: PL34SED with ESPN’s national rating for Sean Tucker

Syracuse football star running back Sean Tucker is a pre-season top-20 player on a national scale, according to new rankings from ESPN.

In recent days, ESPN put out a list of its top-100 players in college football ahead of the 2022 campaign, which gets underway shortly.

In these rankings, Tucker checks in at No. 15 overall, which I think is pretty darn good. In the ESPN ratings, there are three running backs placed ahead of Tucker.

Those RBs are Texas junior Bijan Robinson, Ohio State sophomore TreVeyon Henderson and Kansas State junior Deuce Vaughn.

Do I think that there are three running backs who are better than Sean Tucker as we look toward the 2022 stanza? Maybe. Maybe not. But Tucker checking in as the No. 4 national running back, from my perspective, is a strong rating.

Syracuse football running back Sean Tucker is primed for a special 2022 season.

In the ESPN national rankings, only one Atlantic Coast Conference player is rated higher than Tucker. Clemson sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Bresee is No. 13.

Directly behind Tucker, at No. 16, is Notre Dame junior tight end Michael Mayer.

I’m pleased to report that Sean Tucker is ranked higher than numerous ACC players in the ESPN power ratings, including several top-flight quarterbacks in the conference.

"In ESPN’s article, the media outlet wrote in part about Tucker, “At a school known for its running back tradition, Tucker broke the single-season school rushing record in 2021 with 1,496 yards — so that gives you all the context you need about why he absolutely had to be included on this list.”"

Given the struggles that Syracuse football as a whole has had in recent seasons under head coach Dino Babers, it’s really exciting to me that, ahead of the 2022 term, the team has a top-20 national player in Tucker.

By extension, beyond Tucker, there are a handful of other guys on the ‘Cuse squad whom I believe could significantly contend for All-America and All-ACC honors.

Tucker, who actually shattered the Orange’s single-season rushing record in 2021, was on the All-ACC first team a year ago, and he also made several All-America squads.

In the pre-season prior to 2022, Sean Tucker is on numerous All-America teams as well as the All-ACC unit. He’s also on the watch list for national awards that will honor the top overall player and the top running back in college football during the upcoming campaign.