Syracuse Football: 3 Upperclassmen who need to step up in 2022

1. Sean Tucker: Running back

Sean Tucker might not be an upperclassman, but he is the most important player on the field for the Orange. Syracuse’s hopes for a good season rest on Tucker’s shoulders or legs. The offense is going to run through the rising junior this fall.

Last season Tucker ran for 1,496 yards and 12 touchdowns. In addition to being one of the top 10 running backs in the country last season, Tucker was third on the team in receptions. New offensive coordinator Robert Anae has quite a player to build an offense around.

Anae built one of the most entertaining offenses in college football at Virginia last season, averaging nearly 35 points per game. The Cavaliers did not have a running back the caliber of Tucker in Charlottesville. Tucker could find himself in the Heisman race if Anae can generate a consistent passing game.

The Orange brings CJ Hayes from Michigan State and D’ Marcus Adams from Florida Atlantic. They’ll add depth and talent to a mediocre receiver room. Syracuse doesn’t need a passing game as Virginia had; the Cavaliers couldn’t run, so they threw the football as often as they did.

If Schrader can beat man coverage when the safety walks into the box, that makes Tucker and the running game dangerous.