Syracuse’s Sean Tucker, Cody Roscoe among AP midseason All-Americans

Sean Tucker

Syracuse Orange running back Sean Tucker (34).The Syracuse Orange takes on the Clemson Tigers at the Carrier Dome, Oct 15, 2021. Dennis Nett \ dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y. — Sean Tucker and Cody Roscoe were among the players selected by the Associated Press to its midseason All-America team released Tuesday.

Tucker made the team as an all-purpose player along with Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III and Texas’ Bijan Robinson at running back.

Roscoe, who is fourth in the country in sacks, made the team at defensive end alongside Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson.

It’s the highest honor yet for Tucker amid a breakout season in which he leads the country in all-purpose yards and ranks second nationally in rushing yards behind Walker.

Tucker, a generational tailback for the Syracuse football program, is closing in on the school’s first 1,000-yard season in nearly a decade and will likely be taking aim at Joe Morris’ single-season rushing record of 1,372 yards in November.

There’s even richer history within reach.

With five games remaining, Tucker is vying to become the school’s first running back to earn first-team All-America honors since Floyd Little in 1966 (fullback Larry Csonka also earned first-team All-America recognition in 1967).

“We haven’t had anybody like Sean. Sean is different, and the biggest waste that we could do is treat him like he’s not different, just treat him like he’s the same when he’s not,” Syracuse coach Dino Babers said Monday.

“He’s something that doesn’t come along very often, so we need to use that, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Babers comments came in response to a question on offensive recruiting as Syracuse has built its offense around Tucker and a backfield that includes dual-threat quarterback Garrett Shrader.

The second-year running back has accounted for 1,172 total yards (948 rushing, 224 receiving) and 11 touchdowns through seven games for the Orange (3-4, 0-3 ACC). In his most recent performance against one of the nation’s top defenses, Tucker rushed for 157 yards on 22 carries in a 17-14 loss to Clemson last Friday night in the Carrier Dome.

Roscoe leads the ACC and all Power Five conferences with 7.5 sacks. His 10.5 tackles for loss is also tops in the ACC and fifth nationally.

The Orange’s two selections trail only Alabama (3) for most players selected to the team. Georgia and Iowa also had two selections.

Tucker also earned midseason All-America recognition by The Athletic (second-team) on Tuesday. Freshman cornerback Duce Chestnut was named a midseason freshman All-America by The Athletic.

Nate Mink of The Post-Standard | syracuse.com was on the voting committee for the AP’s midseason All-America team.

Here’s his ballot:

Offense

QB Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh)

RB Kenneth Walker III (Michigan State)

RB Sean Tucker (Syracuse)

OT Evan Neal (Alabama)

OG Kenyon Green (Texas A&M)

C Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa)

OG Thayer Munford (Ohio State)

OT Ikem Ekwonu (North Carolina State)

TE Isaiah Likely (Coastal Carolina)

WR Drake London (Southern California)

WR Jahan Dotson (Penn State)

All-purpose player: Bijan Robinson (Texas)

K Nick Sciba (Wake Forest)

Defense

DE Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan)

DT Jordan Davis (Georgia)

DT DeMarvin Leal (Texas A&M)

DE Tre Williams (Arkansas)

LB Will Anderson (Alabama)

LB Nakobe Dean (Georgia)

LB Devin Lloyd (Utah)

CB Matt Hankins (Iowa)

S Lewis Cine (Georgia)

S Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame)

CB Ahmad Gardner (Cincinnati)

P Matt Araiza (San Diego State)

Contact Nate Mink anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-430-8253

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