2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Walter Nolen III (DL – Mississippi)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Mississippi defensive lineman Walter Nolen III. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Walter Nolen III

Walter Nolen III (DL – Mississippi)

6-foot-3 | 305 pounds

Background

Walter Nolen was a five-star recruit who bounced around several high schools, competing with Travis Hunter for the honor of being the country’s top recruit in 2022. He committed to Texas A&M and spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career there, finishing with 29-2.5-1.0 over 289 snaps as a freshman (four starts in 10 appearances) and 37-8.5-4.0 as a sophomore (10 starts in 12 appearances and 365 snaps) before transferring to Ole Miss, where he’s currently enjoying his best regular season (48-14.0-6.5).

Positives

Nolen has over two years of starting experience at major programs, with escalating production. His build is in line with pro requirements for an interior lineman. He is a very good athlete for his size, with impressive flexibility. Active, energetic player who works hard through the whistle; looks like a nice tone-setter for an aggressive, swarming defense. Plays the game with physicality. Fires out low and with plenty of power; at his best when he’s able to aggressively attack opposing blockers and threaten gaps.

His pad level is generally good through the snap, with good knee-bend. Has the raw strength to reset the line of scrimmage as a bull-rusher. Can scrape down the line when he locates the football. Gives a solid effort in pursuit. Varies his pass-rush approach and is active with his hands to disengage; mixes in different moves, including swims and rips. Doesn’t give up on the play when his initial move is unsuccessful. Can be a handful for opposing blockers, allowing him to draw additional attention at times. Closes pretty well when he finds a lane.

Negatives

Doesn’t have quite the same size and length as some of the other top linemen in the class, which can prevent him from locking out linemen quite as well as you’d like. May not have the on-field discipline some teams look for up front. Overall contact balance needs work; too many snaps where he looks like he’s jolted or otherwise overwhelmed with power. Can struggle to hold the point of attack when double-teamed in the run game. Awareness/ability to locate the football in the run game can be an issue at times.

Not the rangiest defender, despite working to get out in space. May not be an ideal fit for two-gap defenses or odd fronts.

Summary

An aggressive, explosive and physical defensive tackle who can grind down opponents with his bull rush or win with hand use and technique, but who can struggle to hold the point of attack when reading and reacting.

With improved discipline and awareness, Nolen could turn out to be a disruptive starter, but currently looks a bit raw and lacks ideal snap-to-snap consistency. Projects as a boom-or-bust three-technique for an aggressive even front with one-gap principles.

Projection: Round 2

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