Walter Nolen Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Justin Ford/Getty Images)

School: Ole Miss

Class: Junior

Position: IDL

HT: 6’4

WT: 290 lbs

Background: Walter Nolen is a former consensus 5-star defensive lineman out of Powell, Tennessee. Nolen was the highest ranked player in the state of Tennessee, the highest ranked defensive lineman, and a top-3 player in the class of 2022. Nolen played for Powell High School, where he won a 5A state championship after compiling 17 sacks as a senior. Nolen was named an Under Armour All-American after his impressive high school career. He committed to Texas A&M out of high school over just about every other school in the country.

College: Nolen spent two seasons with the Aggies, playing in a total of 22 games with minimal impact compared to his expectations. Nolen transferred to Ole Miss as a junior and had his best collegiate season. He had 6.5 sacks and 14 TFLs for the Rebels.

Strengths: Walter Nolen is a versatile defensive lineman who can succeed from anywhere along the line. Nolen’s primary position is the interior defensive lineman as a 3 tech, but he can play 1 tech or even edge based on matchup. He has a rare combination of size and speed on the defensive line that fuels his versatility. Nolen explodes out of his stance to shoot into the chest of his matchup. His first step is far too quick for the average offensive lineman. With that speed, he creates momentum, which generates power at the point of attack. Nolen has strong hands that can knock offensive linemen off of their foundation. Nolen has not only shown his ability to rush the passer, but he has put amazing run fits on tape as well. He clogs the rushing lane and holds firm without getting too eager to rush into the backfield. He does well to execute stunts and twists to either free himself or his teammates up to make a play in the backfield.

Weaknesses: As a pass rusher, Nolen tends to get out of position by lunging forward in an attempt to beat out his opponent. He can also be caught not playing at the proper pad level, which also causes him to lose his balance. He also may not be able to play as much on the edge in the NFL due to a shorter than ideal arm length.

Conclusion: Walter Nolen is an absolute disruptor in every phase of the game. He can make plays in any game and any situation. He can be a mismatch for any offensive lineman. Nolen can be more than just a rotational player, but the main piece on a defensive line.

Scheme Fit: Scheme Versatile

Ideal Role: 3 tech

Best Team Fits: BUF, CAR, DAL

Player Comparison: Quinnen Williams

Player Grade: Round 1 (90.2)