Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse fullback Chris Elmore will return for the 2022 season, giving the team’s potent rushing attack its lead blocker for one more year.
Elmore recently made the decision not to rush back from injury to try suiting up for the team’s final regular-season game against Pittsburgh. Doing so would exhaust his eligibility and end his career after a shortened season was sabotaged by an unexpected four-game absence and late-season surgery.
Instead, the fan-favorite known as Rhino will take a redshirt, having played in just four games this season.
Coach Dino Babers made the announcement at his weekly news conference Monday.
Elmore is one of the team’s leaders and most versatile players. He’s been a key widget as the Orange shifted to a ground-based attack behind the dynamic backfield of Sean Tucker and Garrett Shrader.
Elmore sounded the alarm on Tucker’s potential before he launched into his record-setting season.
Before the team’s opener, Elmore unabashedly laid out the expectations for Tucker: Win the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back and rush for 1,000 yards.
He easily accomplished one and is on the short list of candidates for the other.
Tucker broke the school’s 42-year-old, single-season rushing record during last week’s loss at North Carolina State. He’s third nationally in rushing yards behind only Michigan State’s Heisman Trophy candidate Kenneth Walker III and Central Michigan’s Lew Nichols.
Elmore played a big role during Tucker’s streak of seven-straight games rushing for at least 100 yards. Syracuse was 1-3 in games in which Elmore played, though all three losses to Florida State, Wake Forest and Clemson came by just three points.
Elmore’s season was delayed at the start of the season. He hasn’t said why he missed the first four games.
He hasn’t played since the fourth quarter of the team’s come-from-behind 41-36 victory at Virginia Tech as a result of an injury.
With Elmore expected back next season, most of the key pieces that have transformed SU into the ACC’s top rushing offense can return, including four of five starters up front, Shrader and Tucker.
The Orange’s 2022 schedule is highlighted by an imposing home slate, including games against Notre Dame and Purdue out of conference and ACC matchups with Virginia, Florida State, Louisville and North Carolina State.
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