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High school football coach sees Walter Nolen having a long NFL career

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby: Lawrence Fernandez04/30/25lawandfern
Walter Nolen - High School Football
Cardinals defensive lineman Walter Nolen speaks during the introductory news conference inside the Arizona Cardinals training facility on April 25, 2025, in Tempe. (© Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Walter Nolen will start his National Football League career after the Arizona Cardinals selected him 16th overall in the 2025 draft. He is the third defensive tackle, and the seventh defensive player selected in the draft.

However, even before Nolen embarked on his college football career, his high school football coach knew that he was destined for greatness. Tyler Turner posted on X/Twitter while sharing a screenshot of Nolen’s draft moment:

“Pick # 16 Walter Nolen! One of the few kids you coach as a 9th and 10th grader and know he was going to be a 1st round draft pick. 300-pound power cleaner/500-pound squat in 10th grade, & most violent hands of any high school football player I’ve ever seen. Long NFL career ahead!”

Turner coached Mississippi’s Olive Branch High School during Nolen’s freshman and sophomore years. He also handled Liberty Tech and Jackson Prep before returning to Goodpasture, a team he coached to a 9-3 record five years ago.

Meanwhile, after playing for Turner at Olive Branch, Walter Nolen transferred to two more high schools before attending college. He played for Saint Benedict at Auburndale in his junior year and Powell High School as a senior. Nolen became a top prospect after tallying 93 tackles and 17 sacks with the Panthers. Likewise, those numbers earned him a spot in the 2022 Under Armour All-America Game.

Nolen committed to Texas A&M and played two seasons for the Aggies, finishing with 66 tackles and five sacks. He transferred to Ole Miss for what became his final college football season.

That decision benefitted Walter Nolen as he completed a breakout season for the Rebels. Nolen became a First-Team All-SEC and a Consensus All-American after collecting 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks, three passes defended, and two fumble recoveries ni 13 games. This time, the Cardinals hope he can replicate his impressive season at Ole Miss.