Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen scouting report: Is he the answer to Vikings' interior pass rush woes?

Welcome to SKOL Search 2025! This is the fifth year I have done SKOL Search with the sole mission being to find NFL Draft prospects for the Minnesota Vikings. Throughout the entire process, this will be the most comprehensive draft guide with a focus on the Vikings. Each year, I scout incoming draft prospects from […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Sep 28, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive linemen Walter Nolen (2) waits for the snap during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Welcome to SKOL Search 2025!

This is the fifth year I have done SKOL Search with the sole mission being to find NFL Draft prospects for the Minnesota Vikings. Throughout the entire process, this will be the most comprehensive draft guide with a focus on the Vikings.

Each year, I scout incoming draft prospects from a neutral perspective and try to see how they could fit with Minnesota. This will be general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's fourth NFL Draft and we have a good sense of what he likes in a prospect.

Going into the offseason, the Vikings have just three official selections with a fourth likely coming with a compensatory selection in the third round. However they choose to use them, they need to make the most out of their limited resources.

Walter Nolen

  • Ole Miss
  • Transfer from Texas A&M
  • Height: 6030
  • Weight: 305
  • Class: Third-year Junior
  • Recruiting info: 5-star, number one overall recruit in 2022 class per 247 Sports
  • Stats: 114 tackles (62 solo), 26.0 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, 4 passes defended, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble
  • Games watched: LSU 2024, Georgia 2024, Florida 2024

Strengths

  • Power: Nolen has a very strong frame. Packs a great initial punch and drives blockers off their spot well. Handles double teams well, usually by powering straight through them with great leg drive.
  • Athleticism: Nolen is an elite athlete for the position. He was often used to one-gap at Ole Miss, but due to his athletic abilities, they trusted Nolen to slant and stunt often. He shoots gaps quickly and can penetrate the backfield with ease.
  • Size/frame: The athletic profile is great, especially with his frame. Nolen wears his 305 lbs well and has it well balanced throughout his upper and lower halves.

Weaknesses

  • Pad level: Nolen is a powerful, explosive pass rusher but he doesn't use his gifts with peak effectiveness. He can get stood up too easily due to not keeping his pad low enough. Now, he does have the power to overcome that, but it's not efficient.
  • Balance: Nolen can be knocked off balance with a shot to the shoulder. He does show the ability to regain his balance but should be able to withstand a punch better with his frame.
  • Line Versatility: Nolen isn't the guy to be versatile across the line. He struggles against double teams, getting moved off of his spot relatively easy.

Overview

TraitGrade

Quickness/Penetration

16.8/20

Power

8.7/10

Pass Rush Moves

8.4/10

Counters

8.1/10

Leverage

7.8/10

Tackling

8.8/10

Size/Length

9.3/10

Run Defense

7.8/10

Awareness

9.0/10

Grade

84.7/100 Second Round Grade

Nolen is a really good prospect who has been praised for years as a potential NFL player. From the top overall recruit out of high school to playing three years in the SEC, Nolen is a very talented player who can do a lot of things for you upfront.

With the Vikings' scheme, Nolen would fit in very well as a base 3T/4i on early downs and would be a great interior pass rusher on third downs. This would allow the Vikings to be more explosive as a unit over the course of the game. Imagine him with Jonathan Greenard, Harrison Phillips, and Dallas Turner for the next few years.

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