Syracuse Football: ‘Cuse beefs up DL depth as former 4-star Alabama prospect commits

More depth on the defensive line is on the way, as Alabama transfer Isaiah Hastings said via his X page on Monday that he was committing to Syracuse football.

Not too long ago, the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Hastings took an official visit to the Orange. However, nearly a week ago, he said that he would transfer from Southeastern Conference powerhouse Alabama to fellow SEC school Missouri.

But earlier on Monday, per his X page, Hastings said that he was de-committing from Missouri after that squad saw two of its defensive coaches recently move to another SEC team, LSU.

The Crimson Tide, by the way, also has a head-coaching change, as the legendary Nick Saban has retired. Alabama’s new head coach is former Washington boss Kalen DeBoer.

First and foremost, a huge congratulations and welcome from ‘Cuse Nation to Isaiah on his commitment to the Orange!

Syracuse football has landed Alabama DL transfer Isaiah Hastings.

Hastings, who has three years of collegiate eligibility remaining, said via his X page on December 7 that he would enter the NCAA’s transfer portal.

Hastings, who is from Toronto, attended the Clearwater Academy International in Clearwater, Fla., before joining the Crimson Tide.

According to the Alabama athletics department Web site, Hastings played in one game during the 2022 season and didn’t see any action in the 2023 stanza.

In national transfer ratings, Hastings is rated as three stars by several recruiting services, including 247Sports and Rivals.com. When I wrote this article on Monday night, 247Sports placed him at No. 204 overall and No. 20 at defensive lineman in its national transfer rankings.

As a highly rated, four-star national prospect in the 2022 cycle, Hastings held roughly 30 scholarship offers during his recruitment, ultimately picking Alabama over suitors such as Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Oregon.

Both the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking, on a national scale within the 2022 class, had Hastings in the top 225 across the country.

In high school, On3 was the most bullish on him, ranking Hastings at No. 53 overall, No. 7 at defensive lineman and No. 10 in Florida.

With this pledge from Hastings, by my count, Syracuse football has now received 32 commitments in its 2024 class. This ‘Cuse cycle includes 20 high school seniors and 12 college transfers.

Fran Brown, the former defensive backs coach at Georgia, was officially introduced as the new Orange head coach, succeeding Dino Babers, in early December.

In a span of just over a month, Brown and his top-notch newly assembled staff have secured a tremendous overall 2024 class.