Coveted transfer portal defensive lineman CJ West picks Indiana

Former Kent State defensive lineman CJ West announced he will be transferring to Indiana on Wednesday, a major transfer portal addition for head coach Curt Cignetti and this first-year Hoosiers staff.

The 6-foot-2, 305-pound West also strongly considered Wisconsin, LSU, Michigan and Rutgers, and received interest from powerhouse programs from coast to coast.

West has spent the past four years as a member of the Golden Flashes and is a grad-transfer.

In that time, West posted 110 tackles, including 19.5 for loss, and seven sacks during 36 games. The seven sacks allowed him to lead or tie for the lead on the team in two of his four seasons. He also deflected one pass, forced a fumble, and recovered another for their defense.

As a senior last fall, West totaled 40 tackles, seven being for loss, and a pair of sacks.

West played high school football at Nazareth Academy in Illinois. He was a three-star prospect there and the No. 1,319 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranked as a Top-125 DL in the class and a Top-30 player from out of his state.

It’s been a good month in the portal for the Hoosiers as they’ve also added linebacker Nahji Logan out of Mass, running back Solomon Vanhorse from James Madison, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds also from James Madison and safety DJ Warnell from Arizona.

West visited Indiana twice since entering the transfer portal in April and defensive line coach Pat Kuntz headed up this recruitment for the Hoosiers.