Ourlads' Profile:
2025 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about C.J. WEST:
Indiana | Hometown: La Grange Park, IL | HT: 6011 | WT: 316 | 40 time: 4.95 | Hand: 1000 | Arm: 3178 | Wing: 7918
Four year starter (three at Kent State). Third team All-MAC in 2023 and honorable mention All-Big 10 in 2024. Short, somewhat squatty frame with shorter than ideal arms but a plus wingspan. Was primarily a one technique but often lined up in zero and slanted to a gap. Flashes snap quickness and gets hands into a blocker’s frame. Hot motor with second effort. Holds the point on straight up blocks and can make a pile on double teams. Often, if knocked out of a gap by a down block, he’s been able to fight pressure, redirect and get back in the play. Has short space agility, quickness and lateral movement. Has a short space burst and gets in on plays all along the front. Has ability to come off single blocks with quick hands and make a play on the line. When he hits a gap on a slant and beats the block he’s usually disruptive of the blocking scheme. Has made some plays in the backfield on gap charges. Solid defending zone schemes, reading blocks and locating the ball. As a pass rusher he’s a bull rush, collapse the pocket player. Flashes hand swipes and gets his hands up quickly on the throw. Has tipped some passes that way. If free on a slant, can close on the quarterback. Other than that, pass rush is limited and he’s often stuck on the line. Has some problems getting washed out on down blocks and double teams. At times pops up on the snap and is easily controlled. Pad level is inconsistent and he can struggle with leverage playing two gap. West has rotational value as a two down player.
2024 Stats: 40 T, 7.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 FF. OSR:27/37. 10-1.69. Draft projection: 4th/5th round