Walter Nolen

NoteCARDS:

• Selected by the Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Mississippi. Joined T Laremy Tunsil (#13 in 2016), Pro Football Hall of Fame LB Patrick Willis (#11 in 2007), QB Eli Manning (#1 in 2004) and QB Archie Manning (#2 in 1971) as the only Ole Miss players to be selected among the top 16 picks in the Modern Era Draft (since 1967).
• Appeared in six games in his debut NFL season and totaled 11 tackles, 2.0 sacks, five tackles for loss, five QB hits, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery (returned for a TD).
• Made in his NFL debut in the Week 9 win at Dallas on Monday Night Football, posting four tackles, 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss and a QB hit. Became the fourth player in NFL history to have 1.0+ sacks, 2+ TFLs, 1+ passes defensed in his first career game. Also became just the fourth Cardinals player ever to record a sack in his NFL debut.
• Became the first rookie to score a defensive TD in 2025 when he recovered a fumble and returned it seven yards for a score in Week 12 vs. Jacksonville. Became the first Cardinals rookie to score a defensive TD since Dominique S Rodgers-Cromartie's 99-yard pick six vs. the Rams on 12/7/08.
• Had a breakout season as a junior at Ole Miss in 2024, becoming just the 14th player in program history to earn consensus first-team All-American accolades. He finished the year with career highs in tackles (48), sacks (6.5), tackles for loss (14.0), passes defensed (3) and fumble recoveries (2).
• Started all 13 games for the Rebels at DT in 2024, helping anchor the best rush defense in the nation and one of the best defenses in school history. Contributed to team school records in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120). Ole Miss finished the year ranked #1 in the nation in run defense (80.5 ypg), #1 in tackles for loss (120), #2 in scoring defense (14.4 ppg) and #3 in sacks (52).
• Named the #1 recruit in the country by ESPN as a senior coming out of Powell (TN) High School in 2021. That year he was named an Under Armour All-American after compiling 93 tackles, 33.0 tackles for loss, 27 QB hurries, 17.0 sacks, six forced fumbles, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries as he led Powell to a 13-2 record and a Class 5A state championship.

NoteCARDS:

• Selected by the Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Mississippi. Joined T Laremy Tunsil (#13 in 2016), Pro Football Hall of Fame LB Patrick Willis (#11 in 2007), QB Eli Manning (#1 in 2004) and QB Archie Manning (#2 in 1971) as the only Ole Miss players to be selected among the top 16 picks in the Modern Era Draft (since 1967).
• Appeared in six games in his debut NFL season and totaled 11 tackles, 2.0 sacks, five tackles for loss, five QB hits, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery (returned for a TD).
• Made in his NFL debut in the Week 9 win at Dallas on Monday Night Football, posting four tackles, 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss and a QB hit. Became the fourth player in NFL history to have 1.0+ sacks, 2+ TFLs, 1+ passes defensed in his first career game. Also became just the fourth Cardinals player ever to record a sack in his NFL debut.
• Became the first rookie to score a defensive TD in 2025 when he recovered a fumble and returned it seven yards for a score in Week 12 vs. Jacksonville. Became the first Cardinals rookie to score a defensive TD since Dominique S Rodgers-Cromartie's 99-yard pick six vs. the Rams on 12/7/08.
• Had a breakout season as a junior at Ole Miss in 2024, becoming just the 14th player in program history to earn consensus first-team All-American accolades. He finished the year with career highs in tackles (48), sacks (6.5), tackles for loss (14.0), passes defensed (3) and fumble recoveries (2).
• Started all 13 games for the Rebels at DT in 2024, helping anchor the best rush defense in the nation and one of the best defenses in school history. Contributed to team school records in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120). Ole Miss finished the year ranked #1 in the nation in run defense (80.5 ypg), #1 in tackles for loss (120), #2 in scoring defense (14.4 ppg) and #3 in sacks (52).
• Named the #1 recruit in the country by ESPN as a senior coming out of Powell (TN) High School in 2021. That year he was named an Under Armour All-American after compiling 93 tackles, 33.0 tackles for loss, 27 QB hurries, 17.0 sacks, six forced fumbles, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries as he led Powell to a 13-2 record and a Class 5A state championship.

Pro Career:

Originally entered the NFL as a Cardinals first round (16th overall) pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Mississippi.

2025: Appeared in six games and posted 11 tackles (eight solo), five tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, five QB hits and two passes defensed as a rookie ... tallied four tackles, 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss, a QB hit and a pass defensed in his NFL debut in the win @ Dal (11/3); became just the fourth Cardinal in history to record a sack in his NFL debut and first since Jason Banks on 1/3/10 vs. GB ... had two tackles and a QB hit @ Sea (11/9) before leaving with injury ... recorded two tackles for loss and a QB hit vs. SF (11/16) ... recovered S Jalen Thompson's forced fumble and scored a TD vs. Jax (11/23) before exiting the game due to injury; became the first rookie in the NFL in '25 to score a defensive TD and the first Cardinals rookie to score a defensive TD since CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's 99-yard pick six on 12/7/08 ... inactive (knee) @ TB (11/30) ... inactive (knee) vs. LAR (12/7) ... registered three tackles, 1.0 sack, a pass defensed and a QB hit @ Hou (12/14) ... registered a QB hit before leaving the game with injury vs. Atl (12/21).

College:

In 35 games (27 starts) at Texas A&M (2022-23) and Mississippi (2024), totaled 114 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 26.0 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and four passes defensed … serving as a full-time starter in his final two college seasons (2023-24), he started 23-of-25 games played and totaled 85 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 23.0 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and four passes defensed ... in his lone season at Ole Miss in 2024 was named a consensus first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection while also being selected as an Outland Trophy finalist, a Walter Camp Award semifinalist and a Bednarik Award semifinalist … earned first-team All-American honors from AP, FWAA, Sporting News, USA Today, ESPN, The Athletic and Phil Steele … started all 13 games at DT, helping the Rebels finish the year with the best rush defense in the nation and one of the best defenses in program history … finished season sixth on team with 48 total tackles (25 solo) … tied for team lead with 14.0 tackles for loss (50 yards), which tied for the 10th-most in a single season in school history … added 6.5 sacks, four QB hurries, three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries … recorded three games with multiple TFL (all beyond 3.0) … ranked fourth in the SEC and 19th nationally with two fumble recoveries … ranked fourth in the SEC in total TFL (14.0) … started 10-of-12 games played as a sophomore at Texas A&M in 2023, finishing the year with 37 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 9.0 tackles for loss and a pass defensed … his 4.0 sacks tied for third on the team … had his best game of the season in a win over Auburn, totaling four tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks … earned the Defensive Trenches Award at the annual team banquet ... played 10 games as a true freshman with the Aggies in 2022, making four starts ... finished his debut college season with 29 tackles, 1.0 sack, 3.0 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … forced a fumble and made three tackles at Alabama in his first college start ... received the defensive Top Newcomer Award at the annual team banquet.

Personal:

Named the #1 recruit in the nation by ESPN as a senior coming out of Powell (TN) High School in 2021 … rated a 5-star prospect by all three major prep grading outlets … was an Under Armour All-American and USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year that season after compiling 93 tackles, 33.0 tackles for loss, 27 QB hurries, 17.0 sacks, six forced fumbles, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries as he led Powell to a 13-2 record and a Class 5A state championship … in addition to being one of the top prep defenders in the nation, also had six rushing TDs on just eight carries as a goal line RB, including a rushing TD in Powell's state championship game victory … attended Saint Benedict at Auburndale (Memphis, TN) as a junior in 2020 … as a sophomore in 2019, played at Olive Branch (MS) High School, helping lead team to a 9-4 record and the second round of the Mississippi 6A playoffs.