Syracuse running back Sean Tucker declares for 2023 NFL Draft, opts out of Pinstripe Bowl

Syracuse running back Sean Tucker will forgo a fourth season with the team and enter the 2023 NFL Draft, he announced Saturday via Instagram. He will also not play in the Pinstripe Bowl later this month.

Tucker joined Syracuse in 2020 as a three-star recruit and the No. 75 running back in the class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He immediately made an impact as a true freshman, leading the team with 626 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

Tucker followed that up with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022, including a career high 1,496 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. This year, he helped the Orange to finish 7-5 while rushing for 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns.

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is set to take place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event will be held at the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. 100 underclassmen were approved for last year’s draft. 73 of those 100 underclassmen were granted special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.

The 2023 NFL scouting combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.