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The 2025 NFL draft began on Thursday, April 24. In the first round, one former Aggie, defensive tackle Walter Nolen, heard his name called with the 16th overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals. Texas A&M edge Shemar Stewart was selected 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. Both former five-star recruiting prospects are headed to the NFL and will see the field as soon as next season.
Walter Nolen's college journey was fascinating, to say the least, as the Tennessee native transferred to Ole Miss after the 2023 season, as his Aggie career included 66 tackles, five sacks, and a pass deflection, but despite his elite talent, Nolen's lack of consistency, especially as a pass rusher led to entry into the transfer portal, finding an immediate home with Ole Miss and head coach Lane Kiffin.
While some will say the change in defensive scheme under current head coach Mike Elko led to Nolen's decision to transfer, no one knows what went wrong between the two parties. Still, from a scouting perspective, Nolen's production went up during his one season with the Rebels, recording a career high of 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two pass deflections during the year. However, the scouts still worry about his consistency and need to match his talent.
With the Cardinals, Nolen will start his NFL career, likely at left defensive end behind veteran Calais Campbell, next season as a key rotational player. He will eventually become the starter over his next two seasons. During the 2024 season, Nolen finished with an impressive 88.9 defense grade and an elite 91.6 run defense grade.
While Nolen brings more production to the table than Shemar Stewart, the fact that both players went back-to-back in the draft is impressive, especially for former Texas A&M defensive line coach Elijah Robinson, who praised the pair for their achievement.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Former Texas A&M, Ole Miss DL Walter Nolen should thrive in Arizona
Continue reading...
Walter Nolen's college journey was fascinating, to say the least, as the Tennessee native transferred to Ole Miss after the 2023 season, as his Aggie career included 66 tackles, five sacks, and a pass deflection, but despite his elite talent, Nolen's lack of consistency, especially as a pass rusher led to entry into the transfer portal, finding an immediate home with Ole Miss and head coach Lane Kiffin.
While some will say the change in defensive scheme under current head coach Mike Elko led to Nolen's decision to transfer, no one knows what went wrong between the two parties. Still, from a scouting perspective, Nolen's production went up during his one season with the Rebels, recording a career high of 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two pass deflections during the year. However, the scouts still worry about his consistency and need to match his talent.
With the Cardinals, Nolen will start his NFL career, likely at left defensive end behind veteran Calais Campbell, next season as a key rotational player. He will eventually become the starter over his next two seasons. During the 2024 season, Nolen finished with an impressive 88.9 defense grade and an elite 91.6 run defense grade.
While Nolen brings more production to the table than Shemar Stewart, the fact that both players went back-to-back in the draft is impressive, especially for former Texas A&M defensive line coach Elijah Robinson, who praised the pair for their achievement.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Former Texas A&M, Ole Miss DL Walter Nolen should thrive in Arizona
Continue reading...
