Ole Miss added another key piece through the transfer portal, as defensive lineman Walter Nolen, the portal’s No. 1 player, committed to the Rebels against Oregon. Nolen is a great addition for the Rebels heading into the important 2024 season.
Nolen was a super elite player coming out of school, rated No. 2 overall among players and a perfect 100 in the Top247 rankings. He quickly became a difference-maker at Texas A&M, recording 66 tackles and 11 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. Nolen ranked in the top five on the Texas A&M team in pressures, even though he ranked outside the top 10 in snaps.
At 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, Nolen is a special lineman who can play inside or outside depending on the package. He’s the kind of dynamic defensive player Ole Miss has coveted since All-American Robert Nkendiche left for the NFL Draft in 2016. Nolen has up to two years of eligibility remaining.
Ole Miss’ strong record continues
Nolen headlines a transfer class at Ole Miss that is becoming star-studded, with Tennessee edge rusher Tyler Barron as a major addition to Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s defense. and joins Florida defensive end Princely Umanmilen. Ole Miss has him ranked No. 1 in the 247Sports Transfer Team rankings, ahead of Colorado with only five fewer commits than him.
With the addition of Nolen, Ole Miss retains four of the top 15 players on 247Sports’ transfer rankings under contract. No other team has multiple additions like this. South Carolina wide receiver Antwon “Juice” Wells joins three defensive linemen joining the Rebels in 2024.
Ole Miss won 10 regular season games for the second time in the past three seasons under coach Kiffin. Previously, the Rebels had never won 10 games in the regular season. Most of the 2023 team will return next season, giving Kiffin and the Rebels a unique opportunity to compete in the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2023.
The No. 11 Rebels will play No. 10 Penn State in the Peach Bowl on December 30th at 12:00 pm ET.