It’s been a whirlwind past few weeks for Syracuse football. The departures of coordinators Robert Anae and Tony White last week and several player transfers have thrown the team off its axles ahead of the Pinstripe Bowl on December 29. However, the Orange got some much-needed good news in the form of an impressive-looking transfer out of the SEC.
Braylen Ingraham, a former 4-star recruit and 6’4”, 298-pound defensive lineman, has committed to transfer to Syracuse from Alabama. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida native is a product of St. Thomas Aquinas high school – a powerhouse that has produced NFL players like Bengals Pro Bowler Geno Atkins, defensive line standouts in Nick and Joey Bosa, and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin. Ingraham’s high school also plays against American Heritage, a rival Broward County-area football power that produced ‘Cuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II.
Ingraham received a bounty of offers during his high school career from schools like Texas, Oklahoma, Miami, and Clemson. After choosing ‘Bama, Ingraham found limited playing time with the Crimson Tide. He wasn’t listed on the 2022 roster, and appeared in just four games over the course of three seasons between 2019-21. Ingraham is set to join a defensive line anchored by Caleb Okechukwu, Jatius Geer, and join a 2023 crop of Orange newcomers that already features 11 high school recruits.
Ingraham’s fit with Syracuse is likely at defensive end given his size. He’s set to join a defense led by a new coordinator after Tony White’s departure and could make an immediate impact. Ingraham clearly has the tools that made him a sought-after recruit, but finding playing time at a stacked program like Alabama proved difficult. In a best-case scenario, Ingraham could come to ‘Cuse and contribute similarly to how Alijah Clark did this past season. As a player buried by depth and injury with the Scarlet Knights, Clark didn’t get the chance to play even as a former 4-star, but found a new home as a free safety at Syracuse. Once Clark was in the fold, he helped the SU secondary rank 2nd in the ACC against the pass.
As we venture closer to SU’s bowl game, the Orange are picking up steam in their Class of ‘23. We’ll see just how far the positive momentum rolls into the offseason once the new year starts, but Ingraham is a big get for a transfer class tasked with replacing some key pieces next year.
