Scouting Profile: CJ West - IDL - Indiana
Sales Pitch: Stout run defender with solid quickness and power. Projects as a quality rotation player but lacks the pass rush ceiling to be an impact starter.
*Gold Numbers Indicate NCAA T-25 for 2024*
Scouting Report
CJ West is a former 3-Star recruit from the state of Illinois. He spent his first four years at Kent State, where he started 35 games, receiving All-MAC honors in 2023. West transferred to Indiana in 2024 and was apart of a resurgent Hoosiers program, receiving an All-Big 10 Honorable Mention for his efforts.
West is a stout nose tackle with a wide frame and solid athletic ability. A multi-year starter, he has logged 350+ snaps in four straight campaigns. He is a smart tough player with a good motor. West’s value mostly comes from his ability to stop the run. He plays with a good anchor and a low pad level to take on double teams and base blocks directly at him. He displays good block shed ability and read and react skills to quickly disengage and fill his gap. West possesses the quickness to move laterally and leverage his gap on move blocks. He takes proper angles in pursuit, and has the wherewithal to peal back a gap and close off cutback lanes. As a pass rusher West primarily wins with power. Solid first step quickness and strong natural leverage allows him to get under linemen’s pads and push the pocket. He has quick active hands that he keeps tight to his frame to open up the chest of blockers and gain control.
West is a shorter defensive lineman who lacks length for the position. He struggles to get first contact against blockers and control reps. As a result he doesn’t project well into 2-Gap schemes despite his block deconstruction skills, because he lacks the length to lock out blockers. West’s lack of pass rush impact and ceiling is the aspect of his game that will prevent him from being an plus starter. He lacks the twitch or change of direction skills to win one-on-one on an island. His stocky frame lacks flexibility and prevents him from bending around the corner into the pocket to finish plays. West also struggles as a tackler - he has a career 17% missed tackle rate - because of a lack of closing speed and short arms. Even when he gets in a position to bring down a ball carrier in space, they more often than not escape his grasp.
West profiles as a rotational NT who fits in both odd and even fronts. His mental processing, strength and stout run defense will make him a quality early down rotation piece. While he lacks the ceiling to be high pick, he has a shot to sneak into the Top-100 as a useful part of a defensive line unit.