Here's the Beef! Former Kent State Defensive Tackle CJ West Commits to IUFB

Lisa Scalfaro via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The question all ‘Portal Season’ for IU has been ‘Where’s the Beef?’ The Hoosiers found their answer on Wednesday when highly sought after defensive tackle CJ West committed to Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers.

The 6’2”, 315-pound defensive tackle played 39 games for the Golden Flashes of Kent State. Last season he led them in tackles for loss with seven and added two sacks. He totaled 40 tackles and forced a fumble.

In his four years with Kent State West made 110 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

247 Sports’ Allen Trieu wrote his scouting report on West as a transfer:

Built like a true nose at a wide, stout 315 pounds. Has natural strength and a leverage advantage which he uses against the run. Is not just a plugger though, as he has quickness off the ball, and can penetrate and make plays in the backfield. Has been a multi-year starter at Kent State and brings that experience of 35 starts. That includes when the Flashes played SEC and Big Ten competition like Georgia, Texas A&M and Iowa.

In some of those spotlight games against the Bulldogs or Washington, he showed he could make plays that were run to the outside and not just right at him. He has the mobility to close the gap on quarterbacks and ball carries.

He will be able to transfer and give a Power Four team immediate rotational depth, start if they need him to and he should have a chance to hear his name called in the NFL Draft.

West, a La Grange Park, Illinois native, plugs in to either the starting or back up role at nose tackle and turns what could have been a major issue for the Hoosiers into something that is no longer a giant red flag.