2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ole Miss DL Walter Nolen

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Walter Nolen | DL | Ole Miss

Height: 6’3″
Weight: 305 lbs
Draft Projection: Round 1
Notable Accomplishment: 2024 AP First-Team All-American

Pros: Nolen has one of the best get-offs of any defensive lineman in the class. His anticipation of the snap is unmatched in this class, and he is unafraid to make the first contact and get personal with opposing linemen. The combination of physicality and athleticism give him the upper hand in most one-on-one matchups, and his strong base allows him to withstand double-teams. For a big guy, Nolen also possesses a significant amount of agility, displaying above average nimbleness when moving laterally. As a pass rusher, his combination of subtilty and quickness give him a unique ability to remain deceptive with his pass-rushing approach. Determining pre-snap whether he is coming with speed, power, or agility is difficult for opposing linemen, which develops into a mind game as the game progresses. Nolen’s mindset is one of relentlessness and determination, and he appears to keep his body in outstanding condition.

Cons: One concern that jumps off the tape when I watch Nolen is his phases of stiffness in his stance. There were several games this season in which Nolen struggled to generate pressure simply due to remaining upright in his stance and tightening up in his upper body. In obvious passing situations, he needs to drop the pads just a touch when bull rushing, as it will help him drive his legs and maintain a pad level that will lessen the chances of losing his initial leverage. Nolen’s hand placement is also inconsistent, with his hands landing too far wide and exposing his chest in the process.

Overview: Nolen has all the tools to become great, and most of his issues are basic technical issues younger linemen typically struggle with. I believe he is fully capable of being a top-tier 3-technique or even 5-technique in the NFL, and he is ready to be an impact starter in Year 1. There are several linemen in this class with similar body types, but Nolen uses his better than just about anyone else.

NFL Comparison: Jonathan Allen