Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolen to officially visit Ole Miss Friday
The No. 1 overall prospect in the NCAA Transfer Portal has been the topic of college football recruiting for the last two weeks. And now the eyes of the recruiting world will be on Ole Miss Friday. Former Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolen is set to officially visit Ole Miss this weekend.
Nolen checks in as the No. 1 ranked player in the On3 Industry Rankings for transfers.
The talented prospect, who originally started his prep career at Olive Branch (Miss.), spent two seasons in College Station, appearing in 22 games for the Aggies. He recorded 66 tackles, 11.0 tackles for a loss, 5.0 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass defended.
Walter Nolen was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 class.
He was the top-ranked defensive lineman and the top player in the state of Tennessee, finishing his prep career at Powell (Tenn.) after a year at the aforementioned north Mississippi school then St. Benedict at Auburndale in nearby Cordova, Tenn.
As a senior he recorded 93 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. He helped Powell to a 13-2 record and the 5A state championship in 2021.
On3’s Charles Power was a big fan of his coming out of high school.
“Large-framed interior defensive lineman with rare movement skills and athleticism at over 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds. Has continued to add size, growing over an inch and adding 40 pounds from his junior to senior years,” Power said. “Among the more athletic nose tackle prospects in several cycles. A truly dominant prospect in camp settings.
“Proved unblockable against top offensive linemen at Under Armour’s Future 50 camp prior to his senior season. Has top notch first-step quickness with the ability to translate speed to power as an interior pass rusher,” Power said. “Pairs his considerable quickness with violent hands and upper body strength at the point of attack. Already has some pass rush moves in his repertoire aside from a bull rush.
“Closes quickly and is capable of tracking offensive skill players in pursuit. Putting together a strong senior campaign after transferring to Powell High School in east Tennessee,” Power said. “Projects as a nose tackle with the ability to push the pocket in addition to rushing the passer.”
The NFL comp for Walter Nolen is former 3rd overall pick Marcell Dareus.
“Walter Nolen‘s athleticism, ability to rush the passer from the interior or as a big defensive end all while having the size of a nose tackle reminds us of Marcell Dareus,” Power said. “Both were highly disruptive at the high school level.”
“Dareus totaled 20 sacks as a senior at Birmingham (Ala.) Huffman in the 2008 cycle. Nolen racked up 31 tackles for loss and 14 sacks as a senior,” Power said. “Dareus had unique movement skills – he ran a 4.93 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine at 319 pounds. Nolen ran an electronically-timed 4.99 40 prior to his junior season at 302 pounds.”
