JMU Star Edge Rusher Sahir West Enters Transfer Portal - UCLA Could Be in Play
One of the most disruptive young defenders in college football is on the move. Sahir West, the standout edge rusher from James Madison, is officially entering the transfer portal after a breakout freshman season - and all signs point to UCLA as a potential landing spot.
West made an immediate impact in his first year at JMU, racking up 45 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 4 pass deflections, and a forced fumble. That level of production didn’t go unnoticed - he was named a First-Team Freshman All-American by The Athletic and earned Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year honors. His performance wasn’t just good for a freshman - it was dominant, full stop.
If you caught JMU’s conference title game against Troy, you saw West at his best. He lived in the backfield, tallying three sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in a game that felt like a coming-out party for the 6-foot-4, 250-pound pass rusher. He wasn’t putting up those numbers every week - no one does - but he was consistently disruptive throughout the season and finished as Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded freshman defensive end in the country.
Now, with former JMU head coach Bob Chesney taking over at UCLA, there’s growing buzz that West could follow his coach to Westwood. Multiple sources close to the situation suggest West is one of several Dukes players considering a move to join Chesney in Los Angeles.
And if there’s a position UCLA desperately needs to shore up heading into 2026, it’s edge rusher. West would be a plug-and-play difference-maker from Day 1.
West also has three years of eligibility remaining, which only increases his value - both on the field and in the NIL marketplace. As one of the top young edge defenders in the portal, he’s expected to draw significant interest, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him explore his NIL potential as part of the transfer process.
But from a pure football perspective, it’s easy to see why UCLA would be all-in. The Bruins lacked a consistent edge presence in 2025, and West brings exactly the kind of motor, size, and production that could transform the front seven. He’s not just a high-upside athlete - he’s already proven he can produce against quality competition, including a solid showing against Louisville earlier this season, where he logged 1.5 tackles for loss.
Bottom line: Sahir West is a future pro. Whether he ends up at UCLA or elsewhere, he’s going to be a name to watch in 2026 and beyond. But if Chesney can bring him to Westwood, it could be the first major domino in reshaping the Bruins' defense - and a sign that the new era of UCLA football is wasting no time making moves.