Sean Tucker chose the number 44 for his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He didn't get to wear that with the Syracuse Orange. The legendary Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little had made that number immortal, so Tucker wore 34 at SU.
He represented the Orange well on Sunday in that number 44, back in New York state.
The Bucs played at the Buffalo Bills, and Tucker had a career day.
Tucker entered the day as Tampa Bay's conceptual RB2. But he was the star of their show.
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The powerful, speedy Tucker ran 19 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He added two catches for 34 yards and another TD.
In the end, Josh Allen was too good, contributing to six touchdowns to lead the Bills past the Bucs, 44-32.
But if there was ever a day to prove that Tucker belongs in a major NFL role for the long run, it was this one.
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Tucker went undrafted out of Syracuse. He dealt with some medical issues leading into the draft that probably pushed him down the board.
He was never an undrafted-level talent, though. Tucker was a superstar at Syracuse, with every aspect of an NFL running back star contained in his skillset.
The Bucs will get Bucky Irving back soon, and that'll push Tucker into the background again.
But he clearly still has all the brilliance he displayed in Central New York, and he showed it on Sunday in Western New York.
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