Walter Nolen

Position:
DT
Collegiate Letters Earned:
3
Letters Earned at Ole Miss:
1
Ht./Wt.:
6-3 / 305
Hometown:
Powell, Tenn.
High School:
Powell
Prev. College:
Texas A&M
Major:
Multi-Disciplinary Studies

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 2025 NFL Draft Selection (Round 1, Pick 16 - Arizona Cardinals)
• 2025 NFL Combine Invitee
• 2024 Consensus All-American
• 2024 All-America First Team (AP, FWAA, Sporting News, USA Today, ESPN, The Athletic, Phil Steele)
• 2024 All-America Second Team (AFCA, CBS Sports, Walter Camp)
• 2024 All-America Honorable Mention (CFN)
• 2024 All-SEC First Team (Coaches, Phil Steele)
• 2024 All-SEC Second Team (CFN)
• 2024 USA Today All-SEC
• 2024 Outland Trophy Finalist
• 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl Invitee
• 2024 Walter Camp Award Semifinalist
• 2024 Bednarik Award Semifinalist

2024 (JUNIOR): 2025 NFL Draft first round selection (16th overall) by the Arizona Cardinals … 2025 NFL Combine invitee … Consensus All-American, one of 14 in Ole Miss football history … All-America First Team (AP, FWAA, Sporting News, USA Today, ESPN, The Athletic, Phil Steele) … All-America Second Team (AFCA, CBS Sports, Walter Camp) … All-America Honorable Mention (CFN) … All-SEC First Team (Coaches, Phil Steele) … All-SEC Second Team (CFN) … USA Today All-SEC … Outland Trophy Finalist … Reese’s Senior Bowl invitee … Walter Camp Award Semifinalist … Bednarik Award Semifinalist … Maxwell Award Midseason Watch List … Bednarik Award Midseason Watch List … Senior Bowl Midseason All-American … Played and started all 13 games for the Rebels at defensive tackle, helped anchor the best rush defense in the nation and one of the best defenses in Ole Miss history … Contributed to team school records in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120), which both led the nation … Finished season sixth on team with 48 total tackles (25 solo) … Tied for team lead with 14.0 tackles for loss (50 yards), tied for the 10th-most in a single season in Ole Miss history … Fourth on the team with 6.5 sacks (36 yards) … Added four QB hurries, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries … Recorded three games with multiple TFL (all beyond 3.0) … Ranked fourth in the SEC and 19th nationally with two fumble recoveries … Ranked fourth in the SEC in total TFL (14.0) … Among defenders at all positions, ranked as PFF’s sixth-best run defender in the nation with a season-grade of 91.6 (No. 2 SEC) … Also ranked as the sixth-best in the SEC in overall season defensive grade (88.9; No. 26 FBS) … Among interior defensive linemen, led the SEC and ranked second nationally in run defense grade (91.6) … Also led the SEC along the interior in season defensive grade (88.9; No. 4 FBS) and pressures (35; No. 8 FBS) … Ranked second among SEC interior linemen in season tackling grade (79.0; No. 7 FBS) and third in pass rush grade (75.0; No. 16 FBS) … vs. Furman (08/31/24): Started at DT, recorded two tackles (one solo), with one TFL and one pass breakup in 22 snaps … PFF’s top-rated pass rusher (86.9) and run defender (85.4) vs. Furman … vs. Middle Tennessee (09/07/24): Started at DT, picked up two tackles in 42 snaps … at Wake Forest (09/14/24): Started at DT, recorded four tackles (two solo), including a half-TFL and QB hurry … vs. Georgia Southern (09/21/24): Started at DT, picked up four tackles (one solo), a half sack and QB hurry … vs. Kentucky (09/28/24): Started at DT, made seven tackles (four solo) and one TFL … at South Carolina (10/05/24): Started at DT, had five tackles (four solo), a team-leading 3.0 TFL, a career-high 2.0 sacks and recovered a fumble for the first time as a Rebel … SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week … at #10 LSU (10/12/24): Started at DT, assisted on two tackles and added a pass breakup in 72 total snaps … vs. Oklahoma (10/26/24): Started at DT, had one solo tackle and one QB hurry in 36 total snaps … at Arkansas (11/02/24): Started at DT, had 1.5 sacks and three total tackles in 40 total snaps … vs. #2 Georgia (11/09/24): Started at DT, recorded two tackles (one solo) with one fumble recovery … at Florida (11/23/24): Started at DT, ended with career-high eight tackles (seven solo) with 3.0 TFL, one sack and one pass breakup … vs. Mississippi State (11/29/24): Started at DT, led team with career-high eight total tackles, 3.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks, named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week … vs. Duke (01/02/25): Started at defensive tackle, recorded one QB hurry across 40 total snaps played in Ole Miss’ Gator Bowl victory … Walter Camp Award preseason watch list … Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list … Lombardi Award preseason watch list … Outland Trophy preseason watch list … Preseason All-America second-team (Sporting News) … Preseason All-America third-team (Athlon) … Preseason All-America Honorable Mention (CFN) … Preseason All-SEC first-team (Coaches, Media, CFN) … Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List … Transfer who arrived on campus in January and participated in spring drills … A unanimous top three transfer according to all recruiting services … Rated as the No. 1 defensive lineman and No. 2 overall transfer in the portal this offseason by both On3 and Rivals.

TEXAS A&M: Appeared in 22 total games and started 14 across two seasons with the Aggies ... In his A&M career, tallied 66 total tackles (37 solo), 11.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup ... 37 total tackles with 8.5 TFL and 4.0 sacks in 2023.

HIGH SCHOOL: Rated as a 5-star prospect by all three major outlets ... Was a 2022 Under Armour All-American ... As a senior, compiled 93 tackles, 33.0 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hurries, 17.0 sacks, six forced fumbles, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries ... Led Powell to a 13-2 record and a Class 5A state championship ... In 2019, played at Olive Branch High, helping lead team to a 9-4 record and the second round of the Mississippi 6A playoffs.