*Sean Tucker, Syracuse Football News: Draft Scout Player News

09/03/22 - RB *Sean Tucker, rSo/2023, Syracuse

Sean Tucker rushed for 98 yards and scored two touchdowns, one on a 55-yard catch-and-run, and quarterback Garrett Shrader threw for two scores and ran for another as Syracuse beat Louisville 31-7 in the season opener for both teams on Saturday night. Louisville had won the past three meetings in the series - all at Cardinal Stadium, -averaging 42.3 points, and was 7-1 against the Orange since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014. The script was flipped in this one as Syracuse built an early 17-7 lead behind a new-look offense, and the Orange defense never let Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham get rolling. He was intercepted twice in the third quarter and lost a fumble early in the fourth, and the Orange converted two of the turnovers into touchdowns. Last year, he accounted for six touchdowns against Syracuse in the first half of a 41-3 victory.

Shrader finished 18 of 25 for 237 yards passing and gained 95 yards rushing on 16 carries. Cunningham finished 16 of 22 for 152 yards passing, rushed for 34 yards on 13 carries, and was sacked three times. Syracuse finished 5-7 last year and closed the season with three straight lopsided losses to miss the postseason. That led to an overhaul of the staff. The architects of Virginia's potent offense - offensive coordinator Robert Anae and quarterbacks coach Jason Beck - were hired in the offseason to jumpstart the offense and their imprint showed up right away in this one. Shrader completed 7 of 8 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown in the first quarter - the biggest play the 55-yard catch-and-run by Tucker down the right side for a 10-0 lead after Andre Szmyt had given Syracuse an early lead with a 31-yard field goal. - Syracuse/AP College Football

rSo/2023