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Syracuse QB Rex Culpepper throws his first TD since beating cancer (Video)

By Alicia de Artola

SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 28: Rex Culpepper #17 of the Syracuse Orange runs out for the game against the Holy Cross Crusaders at the Carrier Dome on September 28, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeats Holy Cross 41-3. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 28: Rex Culpepper #17 of the Syracuse Orange runs out for the game against the Holy Cross Crusaders at the Carrier Dome on September 28, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeats Holy Cross 41-3. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper beat cancer. Throwing his first touchdown pass since was easy.

Nothing beats a college football comeback story and Rex Culpepper definitely has one.

The Syracuse quarterback came into the game against Pitt on Saturday and threw his first touchdown pass since beating testicular cancer.

What an awesome moment for the senior, whose enthusiasm was infectious.

Rex Culpepper threw his first TD pass since 2018 in relief for Syracuse.

Culpepper was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the spring of 2018 after he’d thrown two touchdowns in four games at quarterback, including one start, as a redshirt freshman.

He went through 10 weeks of chemotherapy and was thankfully declared cancer-free by June that year.

However, his return as a quarterback was delayed. Midway through the 2018 campaign, he made the switch to tight end. Back at quarterback in 2019, he made just two appearances but didn’t have the opportunity to find the endzone again.

Culpepper was set to backup Tommy DeVito once more this season and got in the game last week, but he completed just three passes and tossed an interception.

The Pitt game finally provided his moment to shine when DeVito went out with an undisclosed injury following a 10-yard sack.

Culpepper took the field facing second-and-20, finding a receiver for nine yards to give his team a chance with third-and-11. Then he lobbed the ball downfield to Taj Harris for the very nice 69-yard touchdown.

Unfortunately for Culpepper and the Orange, they couldn’t overcome Pitt on Saturday. The Panthers prevailed 21-10, with Culpepper’s touchdown the lone foray into the end zone for Syracuse.

The quarterback finished with a stat line of 88 yards and a touchdown on 4-of-9 passing. There’s a possibility we see more of Culpepper in the future. DeVito, the starter, was ineffective with just 32 yards and an interception on 9-of-15 passes.

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