Tag: Sean Tucker

Next up for Clemson’s run defense? ‘The best we’ve seen’

Clemson’s defense is coming off an uncharacteristic performance against Florida State, one in which the Tigers allowed the most rushing yards they’ve given up in nearly a full calendar year. FSU rushed for 206 yards in pushing the Tigers to the …

Clemson’s defense is coming off an uncharacteristic performance against Florida State, one in which the Tigers allowed the most rushing yards they’ve given up in nearly a full calendar year.

FSU rushed for 206 yards in pushing the Tigers to the brink last week in Clemson’s 34-28 road win. It was strange to see considering Clemson was yielding fewer than 63 yards per game on the ground coming in and has owned one of the nation’s top 10 run defenses the last two years running. Not since Louisville piled up 223 rushing yards on Nov. 6 of last year – a string of 10 straight games – had a team reached the 200-yard mark against the Tigers before last week.

Clemson (7-0, 5-0) will try to make that a one-off Saturday when Syracuse (6-0, 3-0) visits Memorial Stadium for a matchup of ranked unbeatens, but that will be easier said than done considering the personnel the Orange have to work with. Leading the charge for the ACC’s fifth-ranked rushing attack is All-American running back Sean Tucker.

“They’re really, really dangerous if they can get the run game going,” Swinney said. “This No. 34 is a true All-American. He’s the best we’ve seen.”

Tucker burst onto the scene last season, setting Syracuse’s single-season rushing record in just his second year with the program (1,496 yards). The Maxwell and Doak Walker award semifinalist is the ACC’s second-leading rusher through the first half of this season and has averaged 165 rushing yards the previous two weeks. The 5-foot-10, 200-pounder is average 5.2 yards per carry.

“He’s the best back we’ll probably see this year,” said Nick Eason, who’s in his first season coordinating Clemson’s run defense. “He does a lot of really good things. Has great vision. Can break tackles. They run him outside, they run him inside, and he can catch it out of the backfield. So it’s going to be a huge challenge for us this week.”

Clemson can’t forget about quarterback Garrett Shrader either. Shrader has been vastly improved as a passer in his second season as the starter, raising his completing percentage from the lowest in the ACC a season ago to a 69% clip so far this season. But Shrader is still one of the league’s more dangerous running threats at the position.

Shrader is the Orange’s second-leading rusher (300 yards) and has combined with Tucker for 11 rushing touchdowns. Swinney and his players know as well as anybody that the Tigers will have to be prepared to match the physicality the 6-4, 225-pounder brings in the running game.

“You better make sure you’re bringing it and that you have the right mindset or he might try to run you over instead of actually going out of bounds,” linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said.

Clemson got an up-close look at both players in last year’s meeting at the Carrier Dome. The Tigers eliminated Shrader from the equation (6 net yards on seven carries), but Tucker racked up 157 yards on 22 carries in Clemson’s 17-14 escape, the most the Tigers allowed to a running back all of last season.

Relatively speaking, Tucker has been contained by the Power Five defenses he’s gone up against so far this season. He’s averaging just 75 yards against such teams with the 100 yards he had against Louisville to start the season the most he’s rushed for to this point against Power Five competition.

Clemson will also have to keep tabs on Tucker coming out of the backfield as part of the route tree in the passing game. Only receiver Oronde Gadsden has more receptions for the Orange than Tucker (23), who’s averaging 8.6 yards per reception.

But the Tigers’ primary order of business against Tucker is clogging his running lanes and getting him to the ground when they do, something Clemson struggled with against FSU last week. Swinney said he charted 24 missed tackles by his defense, which needs to get shored up in a hurry if the Tigers hope to bounce back from last week and take away the focal point of Syracuse’s offense.

“We’re going to have to play some really good football and get back to those details, and we’ve got to do a good job of swarming the ball,” Eason said.

Photo courtesy of Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports

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Tigers talk about the challenges Syracuse’s offense presents

Clemson’s defense is up for a big test this Saturday versus an undefeated Syracuse team. Led by junior quarterback Garrett Shrader, the Orange are riding high on confidence after a dominant victory over NC State. Members of Clemson’s defense spoke …

Clemson’s defense is up for a big test this Saturday versus an undefeated Syracuse team. Led by junior quarterback Garrett Shrader, the Orange are riding high on confidence after a dominant victory over NC State.

Members of Clemson’s defense spoke Monday about what particular challenges Shrader and star running back Sean Tucker present to the Tigers’ defense, which is looking to level up this week after having a tough time stopping the run game of Florida State.

Cornerback Sheridan Jones shared what he believes are the assets of Syracuse’s offense.

“They have a great backfield,” Jones said. “Their quarterback is tough. Their running backs are tough. They have receivers that can make plays. It’s going to be a hard-fought game.”

Time and time again, the players talked about the effectiveness of Syracuse’s run game. The running back unit is led by the sophomore Tucker, who has 644 rushing yards, six touchdowns and an average of 5.2 yards per carry this season.

Defensive tackles coach/defensive run game coordinator Nick Eason knows Tucker is a dominant force in the Syracuse offense.

“He’s the best back we see this year,” Eason said. “He does a lot of great things. He’s got great vision. He can break tackles. He can run, running outside, running inside, and he can catch it out the backfield. So, it will be a huge challenge for us this week.”

Tucker, who scored a late 25-yard rushing touchdown in the win over NC State, has the ability to utilize his speed and his vision to evade defenders and move the ball downfield for the Orange.

However, Tucker is not the only star of Syracuse’s offense. Shrader has proven to be dynamic for the Orange as well.

With 1,434 yards passing and 12 touchdowns against only three interceptions this season, Shrader is coming into Death Valley with a high level of confidence. It’s not just his passing game that makes him a successful quarterback, but also his ability to run with a high level of physicality. He has 300 rushing yards and five scores on the ground this season as well.

Clemson safety Jalyn Phillips shared what he believes makes Shrader’s run game a threat to the Tigers’ defense.

“He’s a great quarterback and he likes to use his speed, so we need to match him route to route throughout the play,” Phillips said. “We really have to contain him. He’s a really good quarterback, so it’s going to be a good challenge this week.”

“He’s very physical, so we know we are going to have to tackle him,” Phillips added, “because we know he’s not going to slide.”

With the talent of both Shrader and Tucker on offense, the Clemson defense will be up for a true test when it comes to how effective it can be in stopping the run game and pressuring the quarterback.

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

Shipley talks Clemson’s doubters, Uiagalelei’s season and more

Clemson sophomore running back Will Shipley was interviewed during College Football Overtime on ESPNU Radio on SiriusXM following the Tigers’ 34-28 win over Florida State on Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. Shipley was …

Clemson sophomore running back Will Shipley was interviewed during College Football Overtime on ESPNU Radio on SiriusXM following the Tigers’ 34-28 win over Florida State on Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla.

Shipley was asked what his message is to all the people who were sort of giving up on the Tigers (7-0, 5-0 ACC) earlier this season.

“What I would say to them is we’ve had doubters going all the way back from last year,” Shipley said. “Coming out, not having the year that we want to have, we wanted to come this season and prove them wrong, and that’s what I believe we’re doing. We’re 7-0, got a huge matchup next week against Syracuse that we’re all pumped about, and we’re just ready to go – keeping our head down and just focusing on ourselves.”

Shipley tallied a career-best 238 all-purpose yards (121 rushing, 48 receiving, 69 kickoff return) in leading the Tiger attack on Saturday.

As for his receiving yards, the Weddington, N.C., native and former five-star prospect joked that it’s a lot more fun catching the ball out of the backfield and being tackled by defensive backs rather than being brought down by big men up front on a defensive line.

“Heck yes, it is. I would rather get tackled by a safety or cornerback instead of a 300-pound D-lineman any day of the week,” he said, laughing.

“But it’s a ton of fun just being used a multitude of ways in this offense, and that’s what Coach (Brandon) Streeter has done so well is he kind of shapes this offense to get the playmakers the ball and just kind of say go make plays, and that’s what our offense is gonna run off of. So to be able to catch the ball and know that DJ (Uiagalelei) has trust in me to throw me the ball, it’s a huge deal and it’s something that I look forward to building off of.”

Speaking of Uiagalelei, Clemson’s junior quarterback accounted for four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) in the win over the Seminoles. He was 15-of-23 through the air for 203 yards and and picked up a 5-yard rushing touchdown to boot.

In seven games this season, Uiagalelei has completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 1,665 yards and 17 touchdowns with just two interceptions, to go with 337 rushing yards and four more scores on the ground.

“He’s played out of his mind,” Shipley said. “Everybody on this football team knew what type of year 5 was gonna have, and nobody else, looking in, would’ve said that he could do it. But he’s one of the most hardworking, dedicated, just has so much perseverance, and I wouldn’t want to be next to anybody (else) as my quarterback.”

Shipley is excited to face the ACC’s only other undefeated squad in Syracuse (6-0, 3-0) on Saturday at Death Valley and share the field with a quarterback he is very familiar with in Garrett Shrader, as well as a running back he has a lot of respect for in Sean Tucker.

“I’m not going to lie, it definitely would’ve caught me by surprise if you told me that (Syracuse would be unbeaten at this point) before the season started,” Shipley said. “But I’m so happy for that football team as well. I’ve actually got a really good relationship with Garrett Shrader, their quarterback. Grew up with him. My brother and him were really good friends in the same grade. So, I’m excited to get to play against him and compete against him.”

“And then you talk about Sean Tucker, their running back,” Shipley continued. “That’s somebody that coming into this league, that I wanted to put my name next to his. I want to be able to compete against him as one of the best running backs in the ACC, in the country, and next week’s going to be a big showdown. So, I’m pumped about it. It’s going to be a ton of fun.”

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

WATCH: Top plays from Sean Tucker’s record-breaking 2021 season

Check out all the best plays from Sean Tucker’s historic 2021 campaign at Syracuse

If your favorite team is looking for a talented running back in the 2023 NFL draft, Syracuse’s Sean Tucker just might be their man.

Tucker put up huge numbers for the Orange last season, setting a new school record with nearly 1,500 yards on the ground.

Watch the video above to see all the best plays from Tucker’s historic 2021 campaign, and get excited for what he’s capable of doing for an encore this season.

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2023 NFL draft film room: Syracuse RB Sean Tucker

See for yourself what makes Syracuse’s Sean Tucker one of the top running back prospects in the 2023 NFL draft

It’s never too early to look ahead to the next group of top prospects, so if you’re looking to get a head start on the 2023 NFL draft class, we’ve got you covered.

What makes Syracuse’s Sean Tucker one of next year’s top running back prospects?

Watch the tape and see for yourself:

Clemson’s defense does it again

Clemson edged Syracuse 17-14 for its first road win of the season. Once again, the offense lacked rhythm or consistency, but the Tigers found a way to get it done on defense. Head coach Dabo Swinney felt his team did just enough to secure a victory. …

Clemson edged Syracuse 17-14 for its first road win of the season.

Once again, the offense lacked rhythm or consistency, but the Tigers found a way to get it done on defense.

Head coach Dabo Swinney felt his team did just enough to secure a victory.

“We did enough to win the game and that is the objective,” Swinney said. “We have a lot of work to keep improving, but we have won two in a row and that is some momentum for us.”

Clemson’s defense started slow and allowed Syracuse running back Sean Tucker to run the ball effectively in the first half.

Tucker, the Football Bowl Subdivision’s leading rusher, toted the ball 12 times for 132 yards in the first half on Friday. But in the second half the Tigers held him to 25 yards on 10 carries.

For defensive coordinator Brent Venables it proved a tale of two halves.

I thought they blocked us and were doing some things schematically that were a little bit different, we prepared for everything, but you can’t simulate it in practice,” Venables said about the opening half.

“But they had 26 yards rushing in the second half, 25 for him and we did a much better job just getting settled in and getting in a groove,” he continued.

Not only did the Tigers’ defense bottle up Tucker in the second half. But the unit shut down quarterback Garrett Shrader for the entire game.

Syracuse rushed for 354 yards last week against Wake Forest and Shrader ran for 178 yards on 29 carries. On Friday night the sophomore ran seven times for six yards.

Baylon Spector felt the Tigers prepared adequately and executed well to keep Schrader from extending the pocket.

“He’s a great player and a great talent and he can run with his legs because he’s a super talented guy,” the linebacker said. “We had to be ready because when he scrambles, he can make plays so we wanted to confine him so he couldn’t get out and make those long plays with his legs.”

Clemson returns to action next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Pittsburgh.

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Notre Dame vs. Syracuse: Third-Quarter Analysis

At halftime, Brian Kelly told his team to win the third quarter.

At halftime, Brian Kelly told his team to win the third quarter. Instead, we got maybe the sloppiest two-way quarter of any Notre Dame game this season. Nobody seemed to want to take control. Nevertheless, the Irish enter the final 15 minutes of the regular season leading Syracuse, 38-14.

The Irish recovered a fumble on the Orange’s first drive only to watch Ian Book cough the ball right back up. With his team given new life, Sean Tucker soon ran for a 40-yard touchdown. It was the perfect representative of an uncharacteristically rough day for the Irish’s run defense. That it’s happening against Syracuse of all teams is stunning.

When Book returned to the field, he threw only his second interception of the season to Ja’Had Carter. It didn’t matter because Rex Culpepper lost a fumble on the first play of the drive. Kyren Williams then put together some nice runs before Book called his own number and ran 17 yards for his second touchdown of the game. Some probably felt a serious sense of deja vu.

Any hopes that Syracuse’s play since late in the second quarter was an aberration were snuffed out when Daelin Hayes intercepted Culpepper for the Orange’s third turnover of the third quarter and fourth overall. The DJ at Notre Dame Stadium marked the occasion by playing My Own Worst Enemy by Lit. It was such a level of savagery that no one seemed to mind when Jonathan Doerer missed a 50-yard field-goal attempt.

After the defense forced a three-and-out, the offense immediately benefited from a roughing the passer call. Williams came closer to the 1,000-yard mark with a 23-yard run. Two plays later, Javon McKinley continued to make up for lost time by scoring his third touchdown of both the game and season on a 26-yard reception. All of the offensive leaders are chipping in.

Tale of the Tape: Leading Rushers – Kyren Williams vs. Sean Tucker

Kyren Williams enters Notre Dame’s meeting with Syracuse looking a little more like himself.

Kyren Williams enters Notre Dame’s meeting with Syracuse looking a little more like himself. After an impressive outing against North Carolina, his rushing average is back at the century mark. With a weaker opponent on the docket, he should reach 1,000 rushing yards for the season on his home field. Also, he’ll have plenty of chances to showcase why he can be just as dangerous as a receiver as he is a running back.

Sean Tucker probably would have more success this season if he wasn’t stuck in a weak Orange offense. The yards he’s averaging on both carries and catches indicate that he can be of value to any team in the country. Alas, he has not been given ample opportunity to show how much of a difference he can make in a college football game. If the Orange don’t pull off the upset in South Bend, he won’t be the reason why.