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The Pittsburgh Steelers may have addressed the wide receiver room this offseason, but the defensive line—arguably the biggest area of concern positionally—was left on the back burner in free agency. Several free agent signings and re-signings like DTs Isaiahh Loudermilk, Daniel Ekuale, and Esezi Otomewo were solid for depth, but the Steelers lack a true, starting-caliber defensive lineman next to DT Cam Heyward and NT Keeanu Benton.
Enter Ole Miss Rebels DT Walter Nolen III, a first-round caliber defensive line prospect fans should begin to familiarize themselves with as the 2025 NFL Draft grows ever closer.
Nolen played with Texas A&M from 2022 to 2023 before transferring to Ole Miss in 2024—a decision that proved to be the right one, as he was named First-Team All-American for his efforts.
What Nolen lacks in technique, he more than makes up for with impressive raw talent. He boasts considerable power and a sturdy base that allows him to eat up double teams with ease. He also has an explosive get-off at the snap, enabling him to attack the gap quickly against zone runs and catch offensive linemen off guard on passing downs.
Despite his size and incredible strength, Nolen's technique still needs refinement. He can be overzealous in his pass rush at times, which leads to mistakes such as exposing his chest to opposing offensive linemen, poor hand placement, and a limited pass-rush move repertoire. While he's been able to get away with these errors in college thanks to his freakish physical traits, these are fixable issues even at the next level.
Nolen has the size, agility, and strength to play either DE or DT for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ole Miss DT would likely fill the hole left by former Steelers DT Larry Ogunjobi—who recently signed with the Buffalo Bills but was quickly suspended by the NFL for a PED violation. While Nolen’s strength is impressive, it likely wouldn’t be enough to earn him a starting role in Pittsburgh right away. His raw talent doesn’t outweigh the need to refine his pass-rush moves, and he could benefit from learning behind veterans like Heyward and Ekuale as he continues to develop.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
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Enter Ole Miss Rebels DT Walter Nolen III, a first-round caliber defensive line prospect fans should begin to familiarize themselves with as the 2025 NFL Draft grows ever closer.
- Name: Walter Nolen III
- College: Ole Miss
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 296 lbs
- Combine performance: N/A, did not participate in drills
Nolen played with Texas A&M from 2022 to 2023 before transferring to Ole Miss in 2024—a decision that proved to be the right one, as he was named First-Team All-American for his efforts.
Stats:
- 2022: 10 games, 29 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack
- 2023: 12 games, 37 tackles, 9 TFL, 4 sacks
- 2024: 13 games, 48 tackles, 14 TFL, 6.5 sacks
Strengths:
What Nolen lacks in technique, he more than makes up for with impressive raw talent. He boasts considerable power and a sturdy base that allows him to eat up double teams with ease. He also has an explosive get-off at the snap, enabling him to attack the gap quickly against zone runs and catch offensive linemen off guard on passing downs.
Weaknesses:
Despite his size and incredible strength, Nolen's technique still needs refinement. He can be overzealous in his pass rush at times, which leads to mistakes such as exposing his chest to opposing offensive linemen, poor hand placement, and a limited pass-rush move repertoire. While he's been able to get away with these errors in college thanks to his freakish physical traits, these are fixable issues even at the next level.
How would he fit on the Steelers’ defense?
Nolen has the size, agility, and strength to play either DE or DT for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ole Miss DT would likely fill the hole left by former Steelers DT Larry Ogunjobi—who recently signed with the Buffalo Bills but was quickly suspended by the NFL for a PED violation. While Nolen’s strength is impressive, it likely wouldn’t be enough to earn him a starting role in Pittsburgh right away. His raw talent doesn’t outweigh the need to refine his pass-rush moves, and he could benefit from learning behind veterans like Heyward and Ekuale as he continues to develop.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Continue reading...
