Sean Tucker, RB Syracuse: Offseason 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Tucker was a three-star recruit from Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore, Md. in the class of 2020

Syracuse’s Sean Tucker was the most explosive running back in the ACC last season, leading the conference in rushing yards by a large margin. He has the skill set to follow Travis Etienne’s path and become a first round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he’s not there just yet.

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Sean Tucker, RB Syracuse: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt sophomore running back from Owings Mills, Md.

Background: Tucker was a three-star recruit from Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore, Md. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 867 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 868 for On3.com. Tucker was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 76 grade out of 100. As a high school senior, he rushed for 1,204 yards and 14 touchdowns. The previous year, he ran for 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns in 12 games. Tucker was an award-winning 100m and 200m sprinter as a junior and won the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) indoor title in the 55-meter dash two years in a row. He has one brother. Tucker was born on Oct. 25, 2001.

2021 Production: 12 games, 246 carries, 1,496 yards, 12 touchdowns + 20 receptions, 255 yards, 2 touchdowns

2020 Production: 9 games, 137 carries, 626 yards, 4 touchdowns + 8 receptions, 113 yards

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed one game with an ankle injury (2020), left the Clemson game (2020) with a lower body injury and didn’t return

Awards: 2021 First-Team All-ACC, 2021 Second-Team All-American (Associated Press), Bill Horr Most Valuable Player Award (2021), Maxwell Award Semifinalist (2021), Doak Walker Award Semifinalist (2021)

Pros: Looks for work in pass protection, has the juice to bounce it outside, above-average speed and exceptional burst, played some snaps at wide receiver, fumbles haven’t been an issue, gets low in a crowd, YAC upside on screens, his acceleration leaves defenders grasping at dirt, when he plants his foot and cuts up field it becomes a track meet, explodes through openings, feet don’t get stuck while executing cuts and open-field moves, decent contact balance, big play threat

Cons: Feet get stuck in pass pro allowing defenders to go around him, doesn’t have an aggressive blocking mentality and sometimes whiffs, gets pushed around in pass pro, limited experience working in the slot, lacks special teams experience, three drops in 2021, inconsistent at making the first defender miss, not twitchy or very elusive, not on the same level as prospects like Tank Bigsby and Chris Rodriguez Jr. when it comes to finishing through contact and breaking tackles, needs to be more involved and productive in the passing game

Overview: Tucker is unofficially listed at 5'10", 209 lbs. He was one of four running backs to produce over 1,000 yards after contact in 2021, joining Tyler Allgeier, Abram Smith, and Kenneth Walker. He is fantastic as a north to south runner but shows little upside working east to west. Tucker’s tendency to make one cut and use his explosive burst and breakaway speed reminds me a little of Travis Etienne, who I saw play in-person at Clemson for four years. Tucker looked very comfortable in the screen action Syracuse ran for him against Albany (2021), but his other reps as a pass catcher looked unnatural. I’m not sure he has hands reliable enough to frequently use as a receiver. His burst is an absolute weapon in the open field, so I expect an NFL team will at least try to incorporate him as a pass catcher. Tucker has solid contact balance, but it’s not in the top tier for this running back class. He’s not a highly elusive runner, although he will make jump cuts behind the line and weave past defenders in the open field. One of the biggest knocks against Tucker is his horrendous form in pass protection, which often gets his quarterback in trouble.

Overall, Tucker has the potential to serve as a three-down lead back in the NFL. He’ll need to improve in pass protection and see more positive reps as a pass catcher to reach that point, but he definitely has the potential. Tucker’s burst and big-play ability as a runner make him a Day 2 pick.

Role & Scheme Fit: Potential three-down back in an inside zone scheme

Round Projection: Mid Second to Early Third

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 07-18-22