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Tom VanHaaren, ESPN Staff Writer
Former five-star defensive tackle Walter Nolen is transferring to Ole Miss, a source confirmed to ESPN on Sunday.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound sophomore entered the transfer portal this offseason and is leaving Texas A&M after two seasons with the program.
Nolen was the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2022 class out of Powell, Tennessee, and he committed to the Aggies over nearly every other major program that was after him. He played in 10 games as a true freshman in 2022 and had 29 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
He improved on those numbers this season, playing in 12 games and posting 37 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
Nolen will have two years of eligibility remaining and is part of an incredible haul this offseason for defensive coordinator Pete Golding and Ole Miss. In addition to Nolen, the Rebels are getting transfers from Tennessee edge Tyler Baron, Florida edge rusher Princely Umanmielen, Mississippi State cornerback Decamerion Richardson, Tennessee safety Tamarion McDonald, Oklahoma safety Key Lawrence, Arkansas linebacker Chris Paul Jr. Illinois cornerback Tahveon Nicholson and Indiana safety Louis Moore.
The addition of Nolen gives Ole Miss a big, versatile lineman in the middle who will help in multiple ways in the 2024 season.
On3 first reported that Nolan would enroll with the Rebels.