Indiana football DL C.J. West selected in NFL Draft; what Mel Kiper Jr. likes about him
C.J. West, a defensive lineman who helped Indiana football reach the College Football Playoff, was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
West played his fifth season for the Hoosiers after four at Kent State in the Mid-American Conference. He got in on 40 tackles, including 8 for a loss, on the way to honorable mention All- Big Ten honors.
Scouts like West's ability to gain leverage at the line of scrimmage but are concerned about his minimal pass-rush impact.
C.J. West draft profile
Weight: 316 pounds
Arms: 31 1/2 inches, considered short
Hand: 9 3/4 inches, considered average
Draft value: Third-day pick
C.J. West scouting report
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "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."
NFL Draft Buzz: "Put West in a one-gap, attacking front and watch him thrive as a disruptive early-down specialist. His innate ability to maintain leverage and shed blocks translates immediately to the pro game, particularly in systems that value penetration over read-and-react responsibilities. The film shows a player who consistently creates chaos against the run but needs technical refinement to impact passing downs consistently. His lateral quickness and hand violence will earn him playing time from day one in specific packages."
Kyle Crabbs, 33rd Team: "He's not an ideal pass rusher due to his lack of length and how that handcuffs his ability to play off of bodies when they're latched onto his chest. If he can successfully attack the hands and gain wrist control or force a missed punch at first contact, West has shown the ability to play into the frame of blockers and create push in the middle."
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: "The low man often wins at the line of scrimmage, and West has a low center of gravity and strong hands to get into linemen. His tape shows excellent technique, power and tenacity, which make him difficult to block. And at 6-foot-1 and 316 pounds, he gets enough push to collapse the pocket. I even see some pass-rush upside, though he had just two sacks last season. He ran a solid 4.95 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, so he has the speed to get home on the QB."
Strengths
Gains leverage at line of scrimmage, preventing linemen from completing blocks
Good lateral movement at line can plug potential running lanes
Can slip into gaps to blow up plays
Weaknesses
Small arm length makes pass rushing difficult
Lack of perceived pass rushing skill makes him less desirable on third down
Can get washed out by blockers coming from the side
C.J. West highlights
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