Walter Nolen

Last updated

Walter Nolen
No. 97 – Arizona Cardinals
Position: Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (2003-10-14) October 14, 2003 (age 21)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:300 lb (136 kg)
Career information
High school: Powell (Powell, Tennessee)
College: Texas A&M (2022–2023)
Ole Miss (2024)
NFL draft: 2025: 1st round, 16th pick
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Walter Nolen III (born October 14, 2003) is an American professional football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies and Ole Miss Rebels, earning consensus All-American honors with the latter in 2024. Nolen was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Nolen played high school football at three different schools: Olive Branch High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi, as a freshman and sophomore; Saint Benedict at Auburndale in Memphis as a junior; and Powell High School in Powell, Tennessee, as a senior. He also enrolled for a time at IMG Academy but did not play there. [1] His coach at Powell, Matt Lowe, described him as "a young man who has been blessed with size, speed and athleticism." [2]

In his senior year at Powell, he had 93 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hurries, and 17 sacks. [3] He was rated by ESPN as the No. 1 football recruit in the 2022 recruiting class. [4] He was ranked No. 2 by Rivals.com and 247Sports, behind Travis Hunter. [3] [5]

After his senior year, he was invited to play in the Under Armour All-America Game. [3] He was named USA Today High School Defensive Football Player of the Year and was rated as the country's top recruit of the 2022 class by the same publication. [6]

College career

Nolen received offers from numerous schools and narrowed his final five to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and Tennessee. [1] In November 2021, Nolen committed to play college football for Texas A&M. [7] He later paid an official visit to Tennessee, raising speculation that his commitment was uncertain. He then signed his letter of intent with Texas A&M in December 2021. [8] [9] He was part of a recruiting class at Texas A&M that was rated as the best in the history of recruiting rankings. [10]

On December 24, 2023, Nolen announced he would transfer to Ole Miss. [11] At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Nolen was named a consensus first team All-American. [12]

College statistics

SeasonGPTacklesFumblesInterceptions
CmbSoloAstSckFFFRYdsTDIntYdsTDPD
Texas A&M Aggies
2022 102917121.011900000
2023 123720174.000000001
Ole Miss Rebels
2024 134825236.502000003
Career 35114625211.513900003

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 20-yard shuttle Bench press
6 ft 3+34 in
(1.92 m)
296 lb
(134 kg)
32+12 in
(0.83 m)
9+12 in
(0.24 m)
4.76 s27 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [13] [14]

Nolen was drafted in the first round with the 16th overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2025 NFL draft. [15]

References

  1. 1 2 Thompson, Khari (July 25, 2021). "Walter Nolen, nation's No. 1 defensive lineman, transfers from St. Benedict to Powell". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  2. Clark, Douglas (November 4, 2021). "High School Sports Awards: Meet Tennessee's Walter Nolen III, dominant defender and current No. 1 football recruit in the country". USA Today. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Walter Nolen". Texas A&M University. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  4. "2022 ESPN 300". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  5. "2022 Top Football Recruits". 247 Sports. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  6. "All winners, USA Today High School Sports Awards: Cade Klubnik, Kiki Rice among recipients". USA Today. July 31, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  7. Garcia Jr., John (November 6, 2021). "No. 1 Defensive Recruit Walter Nolen Commits to Texas A&M Football". SI. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  8. Emily Adams (December 15, 2021). "Walter Nolen, No. 2 recruit in the nation, signs with Texas A&M on National Signing Day". The Knoxville News.
  9. Garcia Jr., John (December 15, 2021). "Top Defensive Recruit Walter Nolen Sticks with Texas A&M on Signing Day". SI.com. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  10. Perroni, Brian (May 23, 2022). "Late Kick: Texas A&M DT Walter Nolen a freaky true freshman to watch this season". 247sports.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  11. Nakos, Pete (December 24, 2023). "Texas A&M DL transfer Walter Nolen announces commitment". On3. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  12. "Walter Nolen Named Consensus All-American". Ole Miss Rebels Athletics. December 19, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  13. Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Walter Nolen Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  14. "Walter Nolen College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  15. Urban, Darren (April 24, 2025). "Cardinals Select Walter Nolen III In First Round Of 2025 Draft". AZCardinals.com.