Indiana Tight End Sam West to enter transfer portal days ahead of spring game

Indiana football tight end Sam West entering transfer portal
Indiana's Sam West (88) makes a catch during spring football practice on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Indiana's Sam West (88) makes a catch during spring football practice on Thursday, April 10, 2025. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Indiana sophomore tight end Sam West has entered the transfer portal as he stated on his latest social media post Tuesday night.

West announced Tuesday on X he’s entering the transfer portal.

“I want to thank everyone at Indiana for an incredible past two years,” West wrote in the post. “I’ll always hold my time here in high regard and value the experiences and relationships I’ve built.”

West saw action in all 13 games played last season for Indiana, mainly in a reserve tight end role and a special teamer. He caught a 37-yard pass in a 52-14 win over Charlotte for his first career catch.

West was in a tight end battle this spring with senior transfer tight ends Holden Staes (Tennessee) and Riley Nowakowski (Wisconsin). 

The tight end role wasn't used much in the pass catching role but in the red zone and in the blocking game the tight end position needs an upgrade after losing 2024 starting tight end Zach Horton to eligibility. Last season, Horton had 21 catches for 189 yards and four touchdowns.

Indiana will also return veteran senior tight end James Bomba as a backup and freshmen Andrew Barker and Blake Thiry.

In 2023, the redshirt freshman, who stands at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds was rated a three-star recruit from Greensburg Community H.S in Greensburg, Indiana. Sam West was the No. 35 tight end in the class of 2023, No. 11 best prospect from the state of Indiana and No. 752 overall nationally according to 247Sports

He will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

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