Walter Nolen NFL Combine updates: Star Ole Miss DL meets with numerous teams
Ole Miss Rebels defensive lineman Walter Nolen is a projected 1st round NFL Draft pick by most scouts as the NFL Combine begins this week. The updates will roll in Thursday from Indianapolis as the on-field workouts begin, but the star defender has met with plenty of teams already.
The San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals are among the reported teams Nolen’s met with.
Nolen won’t participate in field drills this week. His fellow Rebel defensive lineman Princely Umanmielen said he’s an elite NFL Draft prospect.
“That might be one of the best defensive tackles I’ve ever seen play with his mix of pass rush and run-game ability,” Umanmielen said of Nolen. Nolen previously compared his game to retired NFL great Aaron Donald. “His natural explosiveness and strength is crazy.”
Coming out of high school, Texas A&M landed Nolen, who headlined the Aggies’ No. 1 recruiting class that cycle. He played two seasons in College Station before transferring to Ole Miss last season. He made the most of it. Across those three years in the SEC, Nolen managed 114 total tackles and 11.5 sacks.
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In his lone season in Oxford Nolen finished with 14 tackles for loss (team high) and 6.5 sacks (fourth best). Nolen is also the 14th consensus All-American in program history.
Walter Nolen’s always been an elite prospect
Dating back to high school, Walter Nolen was an elite prospect. On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power highlighted his prowess in his scouting report. According to On3, he was the No. 1 overall prospect in the entire country coming out of high school.
“Large-framed interior defensive lineman with rare movement skills and athleticism at over 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds. Has continued to add size, growing over an inch and adding 40 pounds from his junior to senior years,” Power said. “Among the more athletic nose tackle prospects in several cycles. A truly dominant prospect in camp settings. Proved unblockable against top offensive linemen at Under Armour’s Future 50 camp prior to his senior season. Has top notch first-step quickness with the ability to translate speed to power as an interior pass rusher. Pairs his considerable quickness with violent hands and upper body strength at the point of attack.
“Already has some pass rush moves in his repertoire aside from a bull rush. Closes quickly and is capable of tracking offensive skill players in pursuit. Putting together a strong senior campaign after transferring to Powell High School in east Tennessee. Projects as a nose tackle with the ability to push the pocket in addition to rushing the passer.”
