CJ West drafted by San Francisco 49ers in fourth round of NFL Draft
Former Indiana defensive tackle C.J. West has been selected with the 113th pick in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
West becomes the first Hoosier to be drafted since Micah McFadden was selected 146th overall by the Giants in 2022, while he becomes the first Indiana defensive tackle to be drafted since Nathan Davis was selected in the 2nd round all the way back in 1997.
In his lone season with Indiana in 2024, West was an impact player on the Hoosiers’ defensive line, as he anchored the front four from the tackle position. The 6-foot-1, 316-pound lineman totaled 42 tackles and two sacks, while he also forced one fumble on the year.
Most of his production doesn’t show up on the stat sheet though, as he was critical in disrupting opposing quarterbacks’ passes, while his presence inside opened up lanes for other rushers on the IU front seven to get to the QB.
This successful 2024 campaign resulted in the Chicago native being invited to the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium along with IU quarterback Kurtis Rourke. West had an impressive showing in Indianapolis, ranking as the 8th-best defensive tackle who participated in the combine according to NFL Next-Gen Stats.
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Before transferring to IU ahead of the 2024 season, CJ West spent four years at Kent State, although he redshirted his freshman season in 2020. In his tenure with the Golden Flashes West totaled 108 tackles and eight sacks, earning All-Mid American Conference third team honors.
West’s selection in the draft comes as no surprise, as the skilled nose tackle was a force to be reckoned with on Indiana’s defensive front, while he was an important team leader who exhibited character and poise during the Hoosiers’ record-breaking 11-2 season.
HIGHLIGHTS
NFL DRAFT BIO (NFL.com)
Overview
Fifth-year senior with three seasons as a full-time starter at Kent State and one at Indiana. West benefited from an extremely active, gaming front that created playmaking opportunities, but he also did the dirty work inside that scheme. He plays with adequate hand and foot quickness and is quick to diagnose the play. A lack of length and leverage at the point of attack might tie him to a one-gapping scheme as a pro. The sack totals are light, but he has enough athletic ability to compete as a rusher on single blocks. West has Day 3 value as a likely three-technique backup.
Strengths
- As a rusher, ties hands and feet for quick hops to center’s edge.
- Quick read-and-react to lateral movement by blocker.
- Works into gaps on stretch plays to disrupt the design.
- Plays with some foot quickness when maneuvering in tight quarters.
- Works his hands from block to block without lingering.
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