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WATCH: 5-star defensive lineman Walter Nolen forces fumble

Wg0vf-nP_400x400by:Keegan Pope•10/21/21•

bykeeganpope

Warren Nolen 4 copy 1
(Chad Simmons/On3)

Powell (Tenn.) High defensive lineman Walter Nolen is the top uncommitted player at his position in the 2022 class, and he showed why on Thursday night.

On the first series of Powell’s game, the 6-foot-4, 325-pound Nolen beat the offensive lineman across from him and pancaked another blocker and one of his own teammates before chasing down the running back and stripping him.

The sequence showed off not only his strength, but the agility and motor that have made him such a prized recruit. Nolen ranks as the No. 6 overall player in the 2022 On300 rankings and is the highest-rated defensive lineman still not committed.

Texas A&M is leading for Walter Nolen

With Georgia getting commitments from Alexander and Williams, it’s likely the Bulldogs are on the outside looking in with Nolen. The program thought to be leading for him, according to On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons, is Texas A&M.

“Based on the info I’m getting right now, the Aggies are likely the school everyone else is chasing,” Simmons said.

Nolen visited College Station over the summer and was back in town two weeks ago for the Aggies’ shocking upset over then-No. 1 Alabama. He’s also expected back this weekend when the Aggies host South Carolina.

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His father, also named Walter, said they were very impressed by the visit and the atmosphere at Kyle Field.

“The environment here and atmosphere even before the win was spectacular,” the elder Nolen said. “I’m sure it helped their recruitment of him.”

Visits to Tennessee, Alabama still expected

A week after tripping to A&M, Walter Nolen and his family made the short drive from their home just outside Knoxville to see Tennessee. Vols fans were out in full force, and the local school is expected to host Nolen for an official visit Nov. 13. The week before, he plans to be at Alabama.

According to Simmons, the Vols and Crimson Tide are the two other schools mainly in contention for Nolen at this point, though Florida, which he visited earlier this season, can’t be counted out.