Ourlads' Profile:
2025 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about WALTER NOLEN III:
Mississippi | Hometown: Powell, TN | HT: 6037 | WT: 300 | 40 time: N/A | Hand: 0912 | Arm: 3338 | Wing: 8018
Two year starter. Transferred from Texas A&M after the 2023 season. First team All-SEC and consensus first team All-America in 2024. Versatile defensive tackle he has lined up as a five, 4i, and three technique with zero and one as well. Nolen has an ideal frame with a thick muscular upper and lower body. Powerful and athletic he shows a quick first step and ability to shoot violent hands to attack, stun, and separate from blockers. Sheds on the move and rarely stays blocked. Excellent anchor in the run game, he can split double teams with quickness and power. Adept at penetrating into the backfield on stunts, disrupting plays before they get started. Plays with consistent gap integrity with ability to locate the ball inside and smother running plays. Fights pressure on down blocks staying in the gap. Has been extremely productive with tackles for a loss. A smart technician as a pass rusher he has enough bend, flex, and speed to turn the corner coming off the edge. He can chase on the move quarterbacks down outside the pocket. Also flashed a quick out to in move against an overset. On the interior he can bull rush or stunt a gap. Shows an inside rip move and can stack moves to get free. Adept at hand swipes to keep blocker’s hands away he can get immediate pressure in the quarterback’s face. Will occasionally get too high on a block and get stalemated. Can get upright out of his stance and pad level is somewhat inconsistent. Some balance issues show up at times working laterally off a block. Rush plan can sometimes be out of sync as he can be a little slow to work into a counter or stacking moves. Has what it takes to be an elite NFL three technique.
2024 Stats: 48 T, 14 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 4 QBH. Draft projection: 1st round