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CJ Hayes, who played wide receiver and safety at Michigan State from 2017-21, announced his commitment to Syracuse on Thursday via Twitter. Hayes has one year of eligibility remaining. 

Hayes redshirted in 2017 before recording 14 catches for 154 yards over the next two seasons. The 6-foot-2 receiver didn’t appear in 2020 due to injury and was switched to safety this past season, playing in six games but not registering a stat. Hayes is reportedly looking to move back to wide receiver at Syracuse, a position he hasn’t seen any in-game snaps at since 2019. 

New Beginning pic.twitter.com/FqepR1GiWq

— CJ Hayes (@cjhayes98) January 20, 2022

A native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Hayes was a 3-star recruit out of high school and listed as the fourth-best player in the state in 2017. He received offers from Michigan State, Purdue and Army, among other schools, and was recruited by then-Spartans assistant Terrence Samuel, who spent the past season as Syracuse’s wide receivers coach.

Syracuse has now landed four players through the transfer portal after 15 players left the program during and after the season. Hayes joins former Michigan quarterback Dan Villari, along with former New Mexico State running back Juwaun Price and Louisville safety Bralyn Oliver as the Orange’s newcomers heading into 2022. On Jan. 3, head coach Dino Babers said that SU was “hitting the portal hard,” specifically looking for wide receivers, tight ends and defensive backs.