Inside On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine pick for Walter Nolen to Ole Miss

Walter Nolen is justifiably the top overall player in the transfer portal.

A former Five-Star Plus+ recruit, the Texas A&M transfer made an immediate impact the past two seasons with the Aggies. In 22 career games, the defensive lineman has tallied 66 total tackles including 11 tackles for loss and a force fumble.

More importantly, it can’t be undervalued what the top-ranked recruit in the 2022 class can bring to a roster. Major programs like Alabama, Georgia and Michigan win games because of the talent on the line of scrimmage. Skill players are crucial, too. But players like Nolen can reshape an entire game, which was a reason why he was a pillar of A&M’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class in 2022.

With two years of eligibility remaining and the ability to play immediately, the 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive lineman spent last weekend out at Oregon. This weekend he’s been in Oxford, Mississippi, hanging out with Lane Kiffin and Pete Golding. The Rebels have been on a tear in the portal, most recently with Juice Wells announcing his commitment on Sunday night.

In talking to sources around Ole Miss, there’s a growing belief that the Rebels are the team to beat in Nolen’s recruitment. There’s no questioning the impact he would make on Kiffin’s program, which is shaping up to be a serious contender in the SEC in 2024.

A Mississippi native, Walter Nolen spent his junior year of high school in Memphis before playing in Knoxville as a senior. Playing at Ole Miss would mean being closer to family, too.

I’ve logged an On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine pick in favor of Ole Miss in what would be a massive transfer portal win for the Rebels. With the dead period about to start, there was a reason why Nolen spent this weekend in Oxford. He believes in Ole Miss and helping build up the defense.