Former Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolen visited Ole Miss the weekend of Dec. 15. It didn’t take long for Nolen to know that his next chapter was going to be wearing a Rebels uniform.
“I was telling my dad, I wish I would’ve went on a visit earlier in my career,” said Nolen who was referencing back to high school when 247Sports’ former No. 2 ranked prospect in the 2022 class chose the Aggies over Alabama, Florida, Michigan and Tennessee among others.
The 6-foot-4, 285-pound Nolen fell in love during his experience in Oxford, and just over a week later, on Christmas Eve, he announced his pledge to head coach Lane Kiffin and the Rebels. He also took a visit to Oregon the week prior to his experience on The Grove.
“My favorite thing about Ole Miss is really just the at-home culture,” Nolen said. “I just felt like, I felt more love at Ole Miss. I could tell in the locker room it was sincere. I don’t think I have no relationship with no other players like that except with a couple guys on my last team at Texas A&M.
“I mess with the (Ole Miss) staff in general. I feel they can get me where I need to be in the next year.
Also I get a chance to go back home and give back to the community (Nolen is passionate about donating his time to the nearby city of Memphis).”
Nolen is the jewel of a transfer portal class 247Sports ranks No. 1 nationally, a 12-player haul that also includes the No. 1 edge Princely Umanmielen, the No. 2 edge Tyler Baron, the No. 3 linebacker Chris Paul, the No. 3 receiver Antwane Wells and the No. 5 cornerback Decamerion Richardson.
Nolen knows what it looks like in the SEC and believes Ole Miss has as much potential as any program in the country.
“Ain’t nobody stopping Ole Miss but Ole Miss,” he stated.
“If you look on paper you can already see the team. I think they’re going to be something serious. I think Coach Kiffin is a great coach. When it’s time to lock in I think he can teach you some things and get you ready to go to the next level.”
Nolen was close with his position coach at Texas A&M in Elijah Robinson and feels like he quickly hit it off with Randall Joyner at Ole Miss.
“Coach Joyner, I just feel like after sitting down with him a couple times I feel he has the right plan for me. He really interacted with his guys. He’s a younger coach I feel that’s a plus too.”
Across 12 games this past season, Nolen recorded 37 tackles (8 1/2 for loss) and four sacks. Nolen impressed as a true freshman as well, totaling 29 tackles (2 1/2 for loss) and one sack across 10 games in 2022.
