Transfer portal DT chooses Indiana over Michigan football and others

There is at least one transfer portal target off the board for Michigan football following the commitment of defensive tackle CJ West to Indiana on Wednesday.

West is a 6-foot-2, 315-pound defensive tackle from Kent State. The graduate transfer had 50 tackles last season for the Golden Flashes in addition to two sacks.

LETS GET AFTER IT BLOOMINGTON‼️‼️GO HOOSIERS!!! @IndianaFootball pic.twitter.com/Ved0Sxes2u

— CJ West (@CJWEST50) May 8, 2024

Michigan football offered West and Jay’viar Suggs, a 6-foot-3, 282-pounder out of Grand Valley State. Suggs released a top six on Tuesday night that included the Wolverines following a visit this week.

There was hope that the Wolverines would get West on campus but it doesn’t appear that happened. He did visit Wisconsin and had plenty of Big Ten interest. Yet, the Hoosiers, who have done a nice job in the transfer portal under new head coach Curt Cignetti, were able to win out.

West seemed like he would have been an ideal fit. But there are only so many snaps available, which is especially true for anyone who joins the Wolverines defensive line.

Mason Graham would have been the first defensive tackle taken in the 2024 NFL draft if he was eligible. He’s going to be a top-10 pick. Kenneth Grant also has first-round potential. So they are going to play most of the snaps. They can’t play them all though. That’s what makes quality depth important.

But, it’s hard to ask someone to transfer to be a backup, and with Graham, Grant, and Rayshaun Benny, that would have been the case for West, who will get on the field much easier at Indiana than with Michigan football.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms.