In June of 2018, Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper was officially cancer free, about three months after he announced he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and after 100 hours of chemotherapy, Syracuse.com reported at the time.
Two years later, Culpepper, now a senior and the Orange’s backup, threw his first touchdown pass since he beat cancer on Saturday against Pitt.
The Orange were trailing the Panthers, 7-3, early in the second quarter, and Culpepper was in for struggling Syracuse starter Tommy DeVito, who Pitt sacked a total of seven times. Culpepper’s first pass of the drive was a nine-yard completion on 2nd-and-20.
His second throw on 3rd-and-11 was a high-flying deep pass to junior wide receiver Taj Harris for a 69-yard touchdown — the Orange’s only touchdown of the game, which gave them a 10-7 lead with the extra point.
Syracuse QB Rex Culpepper threw his first TD pass since being declared cancer-free in 2018 👏
(via @accnetwork) pic.twitter.com/50czw7ONRc
— ESPN (@espn) September 19, 2020
Syracuse ultimately lost, 21-10, with Culpepper and DeVito continuing to trade off throughout the game.
But the senior’s first touchdown pass since being declared cancer-free was the obvious highlight. Against the Panthers, Culpepper completed 4-of-9 passes for 88 yards.
Here’s a look at Culpepper in 2018 celebrating being cancer free, via Syracuse.com:
