West is a thick, powerful SEC defensive end who earned his stripes as a rotational run defender behind one of the best defensive lines in the country at Tennessee. He plays with a relentless motor and genuine violence at the point of attack — the Mississippi State strip-sack that flipped a game in the fourth quarter showed what he can do when his power and effort converge. But 47 games and only 5 starts is a red flag, and his pass-rush toolkit is rudimentary — he wins with a bull rush and effort, not with bend or counter moves. The ceiling is a physical rotational defensive end who earns snaps on early downs; the floor is a camp body who can't overcome a 23% career missed tackle rate at the NFL level.
- Legitimate power at the point of attack — 290 pounds with a violent hands-first playing style that allows him to set and hold the edge against the run
- Relentless motor that doesn't shut off — consistently makes plays in backside pursuit and is praised by coaches and scouts alike for effort
- Quick first step for his size that allows him to shoot gaps and generate disruption on stunts and games
- Competitive toughness and physicality — former four-star recruit who competed in the SEC for four years against top-tier offensive linemen
- Severely limited pass-rush repertoire — wins almost exclusively with a bull rush and effort, lacks counter moves, bend, or a speed-to-power conversion toolkit
- High missed tackle rate (17.4% senior year, 23.4% career) that raises serious questions about finishing ability and tackling technique at the NFL level
- Never secured a starting role at Tennessee despite four seasons — was a rotational piece behind players like James Pearce Jr., Bryson Eason, and Joshua Josephs
- Did not receive an NFL Combine invitation, limiting measurable validation of physical traits, and is not on PFF's big board
Multiple scouting aggregators cite a Davenport comp — a big-bodied edge who sets the edge first and rushes the passer second. West's size (6-3, 290) and power-first style mirror Davenport's run-defense-first identity, though West lacks Davenport's initial first-round athleticism and upside. More realistically, West's NFL trajectory likely mirrors Davenport's role as a rotational early-down defender rather than a full-time starter.