Tennessee Vols named a potential landing spot for coveted player in the NCAA transfer portal
The Tennessee Vols were named a potential landing spot this week for one of the most coveted players in the NCAA transfer portal. Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Walter Nolen, a former Vols recruiting target, officially entered the transfer portal on Wednesday. Nolen is rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 overall player in the […]
The Tennessee Vols were named a potential landing spot this week for one of the most coveted players in the NCAA transfer portal.
Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Walter Nolen, a former Vols recruiting target, officially entered the transfer portal on Wednesday.
Nolen is rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal. He was rated as the No. 2 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class.
"First off I wanna thank God for putting me in the position that I am in today," wrote Nolen in a message to On3. "It has been a good run over the past 2 years, a lot of ups and downs. Being here at Texas A&M has taught me a lot, on and off the field, but with that being said I will be entering my name into the transfer portal with 2 years of eligibility. My Recruitment is WIDE OPEN!"
247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong reported this week that Tennessee and Michigan, teams that were high on Nolen's list during the recruiting process, will be in consideration as the talented defensive lineman searches for a new home (a return to Texas A&M is still possible, too). Other teams will likely get into the mix, but for now the Vols are a "team to watch" for the Vols.
Tennessee was a finalist for Nolen, who finished his high school football career at Powell High School in the Knoxville area, before he landed at Texas A&M.
Nolen can be the type of dominant player in the trenches that Tennessee needs to compete in the SEC with teams like Alabama and Georgia. But landing him out of the portal won't be easy. NIL will likely be a factor. The relationship between Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner, one of the best in the business, and Nolen will also be a key factor.
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