A native of
Brookville, Pennsylvania, Hastings began his football career at
The Kiski School in
Saltsburg, Pennsylvania. He next enrolled at the
University of Pittsburgh where he played at the halfback position from 1914 to 1916 and in 1919. Hastings was selected as a second-team All-American in 1915 and a first-team All-American in 1916. He played for coach
Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner and was a member of Pitt's 1916 national championship team that outscored opponents 255–25 while compiling a perfect 8–0 record.
Walter Camp called the 1916 team the greatest team of its time. Hastings scored 255 points for Pitt and still ranks third on Pitt's all-time scoring list. He led Pitt in rushing in 1914 and 1915, and also led the team in passing and interceptions in 1916. Hastings finished with 1,527 career rushing yards. He was also elected as the president of Pitt's University Glee Club in 1920. In August 1920, the
National Football League, known in its first two seasons as the
American Professional Football Association, was formed in
Canton, Ohio. Hastings signed on to play for the
Cleveland Tigers. In the
1920 NFL season, the inaugural season of the league, records indicate that Hastings played in at least three games for the Tigers. ==See also==