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Walter Nolen doubles down on Aaron Donald comparison, receives message from NFL legend at 2025 NFL Combine

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•02/27/25
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Former Ole Miss star Walter Nolen has been busy trying to impress NFL decision makers this week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The gifted defensive lineman has said that he wants to be the next Aaron Donald, one of the greatest players ever to play the game. That’s a high bar to set for yourself. But on Thursday evening at the combine, Nolen got a special surprise from his hero.

Donald sent him a video message on the screens in Indianapolis. Check it out as one of the greatest to ever do it gives Nolen a special shoutout and words of encouragement.

Trying to be the next Aaron Donald is setting a remarkably high mountain to climb.

Aaron Donald wrapped up his prolific career with 111 sacks, 176 tackles for loss, and 543 total tackles. From 2014-2023, he played in a total of 154 games, starting 150 of those. Donald also led the Rams to a Super Bowl title in 2022 over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The future Hall of Famer wrapped up his prolific career with 111 sacks, 176 tackles for loss, and 543 total tackles. From 2014-2023, Donald played in a total of 154 games, starting 150 of those. Donald also led the Rams to a Super Bowl title in 2022 over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Donald was an undersized, but historically dominant defensive tackle, firmly cementing his place as one of the greatest players ever to play the game. He won NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times. Donald also made the Pro Bowl in each of his ten seasons, with his entire career spent with the LA Rams. In eight of those seasons, Donald was an All-Pro. To put his Pro Bowl stint into perspective, the only other player in league history to do so was Barry Sanders.

Walter Nolen has an impressive resume himself

That being said, Nolen has put up very impressive numbers himself and helped to push an Ole Miss defense to historic numbers. They set school records with 52 sacks and 120 tackles for loss in 2024. His consistent disruption in the backfield is highlighted by multiple games of three or more tackles for loss. In 2024, Nolen brought home Consensus All-American honors while tallying 14.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. His dominant junior campaign resulted in him being named as an Outland Trophy finalist.

Before transferring to Ole Miss, Nolen appeared in 22 games with Texas A&M, starting 14 games across two seasons. During his Aggie career, he racked up 66 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup. In 2023, Nolen finished with 37 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks.

In the 2022 cycle, Nolen was the most coveted crown jewel in the class, earning a five-star+ ranking, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He was named an Under Armour All-American in 2022. As a senior in Powell (Powell, Tennessee), Nolen erupted, 93 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hurries, 17 sacks, six forced fumbles, three pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. He helped guide Powell to a 13-2 record and a class 5A state championship. In 2019, Nolen played his high school football at Olive Branch High, guiding them to a 9-4 record and the second round of the Mississippi 6A playoffs.