Tag: CJ West

Wisconsin football top transfer target CJ West commits to Big Ten rival

Wisconsin top transfer DL target commits to…a surprising Big Ten school

Wisconsin top transfer portal target C.J. West committed to Indiana on Wednesday.

West had recently received a crystal ball to choose head coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers. The Badgers were previously in strong pursuit of the Kent State transfer lineman. Luke Fickell’s staff offered West after he entered the transfer portal on April 17, then were the first to host him on an official visit.

Related: Post-spring Big Ten football 2024 power rankings

West also visited Michigan, LSU, Rutgers and Indiana before announcing his commitment. Entering today, he was regarded as the best available defensive lineman in the transfer portal and the 10th-best uncommitted player.

The 2023 All-MAC selection and three-year starter at Kent State has recorded 110 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks during his career. His 2023 season included 40 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 2 sacks as the Golden Flashes struggled to a 1-11 record.

He chooses an Indiana program that is in a rebuild under new head coach Curt Cignetti. The program now has the No. 30-ranked transfer class in the nation with West being its 29th commitment.

2024 will be the lineman’s final year of collegiate eligibility.

Wisconsin goes back to the drawing board as it continues to look for defensive line help in the transfer portal. The program is still in the running for top transfer defensive lineman Jay’Viar Suggs, which could soften the blow of losing West to a different Big Ten school.

Either way, Luke Fickell’s program badly needs help at the position as it enters a pivotal 2024 season.

For more on Wisconsin’s transfer portal activity this spring, check out our 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Wisconsin transfer portal DL target predicted to commit to Big Ten rival

Wisconsin transfer portal DL target predicted to commit to Big Ten rival

Wisconsin top transfer portal target defensive lineman C.J. West received a 247Sports crystal ball prediction to choose the Indiana Hoosiers on Tuesday.

The Badgers have been in strong pursuit of the former Kent State transfer. They offered him after he entered the transfer portal on April 17, then were the first program to host him on an official visit.

Related: Post-spring Big Ten football 2024 power rankings

West has since visited Indiana, Michigan, LSU and Rutgers. 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz notes that he is the 10th-best uncommitted player in the transfer portal — playing a position in defensive line that every program is in search of.

The former three-year starter at Kent State and 2023 All-MAC selection has 110 career tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks under his belt. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining at whichever transfer destination he chooses.

Current sentiment is that program will be Indiana, which is in a rebuild under new head coach Curt Cignetti. The Hoosiers have the No. 33 transfer class in the nation with a whopping 28 players committed.

Wisconsin is still in the running for top transfer defensive lineman Jay’Viar Suggs. That could be a reason the program hasn’t been mentioned for West since he visited. Either way, Luke Fickell’s program is in search of help at defensive line as it enters a pivotal 2024 season.

UPDATE: West committed to Indiana on Wednesday, May 8

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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LSU defensive tackle transfer target commits to Oklahoma

The Tigers missed out on one of their top transfer targets on Thursday night.

LSU badly needs to add some help along the interior of the defensive line in the transfer portal this spring, but it’s pool of options just got a bit smaller.

On Thursday night, TCU defensive tackle [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] committed to Oklahoma. The native of Mission Hills, California, had previously visited LSU on Monday.

It’s a tough miss for the Tigers, who only return two players along the defensive line with game experience — Jacobian Guillory and Jalen Lee. For now, that need remains unfilled.

However, other targets remain available such as Michigan State’s [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag] and Kent State’s [autotag]CJ West[/autotag].

Williams appeared in 26 games in two seasons in Fort Worth, totaling 60 tackles (9.5 for loss), 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

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LSU to host experienced Michigan State defensive tackle transfer this weekend

The Tigers are clearly aiming to bulk up the defensive line’s interior in the transfer portal.

LSU has a clear need along the interior of the defensive line, and it’s clear addressing that is a priority in the second transfer portal window.

The Tigers have already offered one of the best transfers at the position in Kent State’s [autotag]CJ West[/autotag], and now they’re reportedly in contact with Michigan State defensive tackle transfer [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag]

A redshirt senior from Grovetown, Georgia, who entered the transfer portal on Thursday, Barrow appeared in 34 games over the last three seasons with the Spartans, starting 30 of them.

He has 110 career tackles (18.5 for loss) and 10.5 sacks. He has also forced two fumbles with one recovery while blocking two field goals, and he was an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2022 and 2023.

According to On3, he’s down to six schools and expected to make a transfer decision quickly. On3’s Pete Nakos later reported that Barrow would visit LSU on Sunday.

LSU’s only two experienced returning players at the position are [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] and [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], and the depth behind them is lacking. LSU may be looking to add several bodies at defensive tackle, but Barrow would be a major pickup for coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag].

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

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Michigan football offers transfer portal DT from familiar high school

While there may be other needs, adding this guy would be HUGE. #GoBlue

Michigan football has some needs in the transfer portal — namely wide receiver, but also potentially quarterback and cornerback. One position that seemed unlikely that the Wolverines would target? Defensive tackle.

The maize and blue are loaded at the position with the best starting duo in the country with Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. There’s some question of depth with Rayshaun Benny coming back from a broken leg, while Enow Etta, Ike Iwunnah, and Trey Pierce continue to develop.

But the Wolverines have been solid in recent years at bringing in talent that is a little off the beaten path. AJ Barner, Josaiah Stewart, Cam Goode, and many others may not have been heralded names in the transfer portal, but they’ve been key contributors over the years. And Michigan has found another target that’s not getting a ton of transfer portal hype who could potentially help with depth at defensive tackle.

Announcing his newfound Michigan offer on X (formerly Twitter) is CJ West, a 6-foot-2, 315-pound DT who has spent the past four years at Kent State.

Formerly rated the No. 1,167 prospect in the country and No. 99 defensive tackle, it’s not surprising that West posted a picture of former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Why? Because, like McCarthy, they both attended Nazareth (Ill.) Academy.

West is one year older than McCarthy and two years older than another Wolverine in wide receiver Tyler Morris, who also attended the high school.

With the Golden Flashes in 2023, West was sixth in tackles (40), first in tackles for loss (7), and tied for first in sacks (2). Adding him to the fold would certainly bolster the group with another formidable presence in the middle.

As of current, he is unranked via the transfer portal rankings. He also has reported offers from Texas A&M, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Colorado, Kansas State, Rutgers, Indiana, and LSU.

Wisconsin football offers former All-MAC transfer defensive tackle

Wisconsin football offers former All-MAC transfer defensive tackle

Wisconsin football extended an offer to transfer portal defensive tackle and former All-MAC selection C.J. West on Tuesday.

The now-former Kent State defensive tackle recorded 40 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble in a terrific senior season in 2023. He enters the portal with 36 games of experience, 19.5 total tackles for loss and seven sacks.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

West has already received offers from LSU, Indiana, Rutgers, Miami, Kansas State, Colorado, Arkansas, Texas A&M and Wisconsin after entering the transfer portal on Tuesday,

The La Grange Park, Illinois native initially committed to the University of Minnesota in 2019 before signing with the Golden Flashes in February of 2020. 

With one year of eligibility remaining, West is clearly a coveted target for a collection of the most prestigious programs across the new ‘Power Four’ landscape. 

Wisconsin has a significant need along the defensive line. Only James Thompson Jr. and Curt Neal return with any experience, plus backup T.J. Bollers recently entered the transfer portal.

West would be a day-one starter for Mike Tressel’s defense as the program continues to transition to his new defensive system.

 

All-MAC defensive lineman CJ West enters the transfer portal, has connections to Rutgers football

Defensive lineman with Rutgers football ties enters the transfer portal.

CJ West entered the transfer portal on Tuesday, putting another player available with ties to Rutgers.

Last season with Kent State playing for defensive line coach Colin Ferrell, West was a third-team All-MAC selection. Ferrell is now the defensive line coach at Rutgers.

In 2023, West had 40 total tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. He is listed at 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds.

Rutgers is likely looking for some depth at defensive tackle after losing Rene Konga in the transfer portal on Monday. They added Malcolm Ray (Florida State) during the offseason via the transfer portal and have a player in Zaire Angoy who is expected to take a significant step forward this spring.

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West posted on social media on Tuesday about his entering the transfer portal.

 

In terms of eligibility, West was a redshirt in 2020 as a freshman, appearing in one game. He enters the transfer portal as a graduate with one season of eligibility remaining.