Walter Nolen, IDL, Ole Miss
Size:
Height: 6036
Weight: 296
Arm: 32 ½”
Hand: 9 ½”
Accomplishments:
Five-star recruit (No. 2 overall)
"Walter Nolen is a strong, powerful, and versatile interior defensive lineman who can be a reliable run-stopper while also providing high-level reps as a pass rusher.”
Strengths:
Alignment-versatile IDL
First-step quickness
Strong, violent hands
Power/functional strength
Fluid/functional athleticism
Concerns:
Inconsistent balance moving laterally
Occasional high pad level
Film Analysis:
Walter Nolen transferred to Ole Miss from Texas A&M, where he was previously brought in as one the highest-rated prospects of his class. Nolan's combination of prototypical size, good upper-body size, good lower-body mass, athletic ability, and overall strength allowed him to be a key contributor in college football since his freshman year. Nolen’s combination of athletic ability and functional strength made him a versatile defensive lineman who can align anywhere along the defensive front from the 0-tech position to an edge rusher, where he provides high-level reps in both the run game and as a pass rusher.
In the run game, Nolen's strength is evident in how he shoots his hands and instantly impacts offensive linemen from moving forward. Nolen has good grip strength and can control offensive linemen and shed them when he needs to in order to make a play on the ball-carrier. Nolen can consistently hold the point of attack, maintaining the line of scrimmage. Nolen can also win with quickness. On slants or stunts, Nolen showcases a quick first step where he can quickly get into gaps and create penetration to disrupt run plays. Nolen has the functional athleticism to be able to redirect or change directions to adjust to ball-carriers redirecting their flow. Against the run, Nolen can be utilized in multiple ways and can be disruptive.
As a pass rusher, Nolen provides different skills depending upon alignment. When aligned as an edge rusher, Nolen uses speed to power to win. Or he can set up offensive linemen with an outside angle and then crossover to take an inside path to the quarterback. Nolen pairs these moves with quick, powerful hands where he can quickly knock the hands of offensive linemen down to win the rep.
Aligned at the IDL position, Nolen uses quickness and power to win. Nolen can use a quick rip move to immediately get penetration. Or he can use his lateral quickness to start upfield and then cross the face of the offensive lineman and win to get into the backfield. Because of Nolen's combination of strength and athleticism, he has the opportunity to be a consistently impactful pass rusher.
Nolen’s improvement as a player has to simply do with being inconsistent. While he plays the run well most of the time, there are reps where he will show high pad level at the snap and lose the rep by giving up ground in the run game.
Overall, Nolen has high-level physical traits that translate to him being a dominant run defender while also being a productive interior pass rusher on the next level.
Prospect Projection: Day 1 — Pro Bowl Caliber
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposures: Kentucky (2024), South Carolina (2024), LSU (2024), Georgia (2024), Miami (2023), LSU (2023), Alabama (2023), Tennessee (2023)
