Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: DT Walter Nolen

Here is our scouting report on Walter Nolen from Ole Miss

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at defensive tackle Walter Nolen from Ole Miss.

Walter Nolen

DT
Ole Miss Rebels
Junior
5-star recruit
6’3”
305 lbs

History

Walter Nolen III was born on the 14th October 2003. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he played high school football at several schools, including Olive Branch High School in Mississippi, Saint Benedict at Auburndale in Memphis, and Powell High School in Tennessee, where he had a standout senior year. At Powell, he recorded 93 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hurries, and 17 sacks, leading his team to a Class 5A state championship. He was rated as the number two overall football recruit in the 2022 class and was a five-star prospect.

Nolen started his college career at Texas A&M, where he played for two seasons, appearing in 22 games and starting 14. During his time there, he tallied 66 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and five sacks. In December 2023, he transferred to Ole Miss, where he became a key player in his junior year of 2024.

At Ole Miss, he started all 13 games, leading the team with 14 tackles for loss and ranking third with seven sacks. His performance earned him consensus All-American honors and a spot as a finalist for the Outland Trophy, recognizing him as one of the nation’s top interior linemen. He achieved all this and only turned 21 last October.

2024 Statistics

551 Defensive Snaps
48 Total Tackles
14 Tackles For Loss
30 Total Pressures
7 Sacks
3 Pass Breakups
2 Fumble Recoveries
3 Penalties

NFL Combine/Pro Day

TBC

Awards

All-America (2024)
First-Team All-SEC (2024)

Scorecard

Overall- 86.0
Speed- 84
Acceleration- 88
Agility- 78
Strength- 92
Pass Rush- 90
Run Defense- 82
Tackling- 90
Discipline- 95

THE GOOD

• Nolen is an elite athlete for his size and position.
• Has an impressive first-step quickness and burst off the line.
• His speed and agility allow him to shoot gaps and penetrate the backfield effectively, making him a disruptive presence against both the run and pass.
• He has heavy hands and a solid initial punch, enabling him to stun and drive back offensive linemen.
• His ability to handle double teams and maintain leverage is exceptional when he wins early engagements.
• Very versatile and has proven he can play multiple positions, such as a 3-technique or 4i-technique, and has shown the ability to play on the edge.
• He demonstrates a relentless motor, chasing plays from the backside and finishing with intensity on every play.

THE BAD

• Nolen can be inconsistent with his pad level, sometimes struggling to keep his pads down.
• Struggles to anchor or shed blocks.
• His pass-rushing moves need refinement, as he relies heavily on power and speed but lacks a diverse set of...