Predicting Texas's next transfer commit after Jay'Vion Cole

CJ West, DL

Another transfer defensive tackle who has received interest from multiple Power Five schools in the portal this spring is former Kent State Golden Flashes senior transfer CJ West. The big 6-foot-2 and 315-pound grad transfer has already taken a visit to Madison to see the Wisconsin Badgers this spring.

Michigan and the Indiana Hoosiers are also likely to get visits from West in the coming days and weeks.

West is one of the few remaining defensive tackles in the portal who has multiple years of starting experience playing over the ball in the FBS. He's also capable of playing in multiple gaps at interior defensive line to take advantage of his size and power as a pass rusher and interior run stopper.

The Kent State transfer was productive as a starting nose tackle last season. He led all MAC nose tackles in run stuffs, tackles for loss, defensive stops, quarterback pressures, and QB hits from the zero-tech (per SIS Data Hub).

Given West's proficiency and size playing the zero-tech (over 400 defensive snaps at nose) since 2022, he could be a viable option to add vital depth to Texas's defensive line for this upcoming season.

Texas did add former Arizona and Georgia grad transfer Bill Norton as someone who can play over the football in the Power Five. But they don't have anyone else proven who can play zero tech with multiple years of starting experience in the FBS to ensure depth at defensive tackle in the SEC this fall.