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Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen selected by Arizona Cardinals in 2025 NFL Draft

11by:Jake Thompson•04/24/25•

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NCAA Football: Kentucky at Mississippi
Sep 28, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive linemen Walter Nolen (2) waits for the snap during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The next Ole Miss player taken in the 2025 NFL Draft is Walter Nolen.

The defensive lineman was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round as the 16th overall pick. He is the first Rebel to go in the first round since Evan Engram in 2017.

At the onset of the draft process Nolen was trending to be the Rebels first player taken this year but then he and quarterback Jaxson Dart started jockeying for position on the mock draft boards. Nolen ended up winning that race.

Still, Nolen is the second Rebel to go off the board and was among the best available defensive tackles in this year’s draft class.

After transferring to Ole Miss after two seasons at Texas A&M Nolen earned consensus All-American honors and only the 14th Rebel to do is on program history. He helped anchor the best rush defense in the country last season and one of the best defenses in program history.

Nolen finished sixth on the team in tackles with 48 and tied for the team lead with 14 tackles for loss and recorded 6.5 sacks. He also had four quarterback hurries, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

The entire starting Ole Miss defensive line from 2024 could potentially go in this year’s seven-round draft. JJ Pegues, Jared Ivey and Princely Umanmielen are also considered high draft talent.

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