Let’s take a closer look at one of the prospects the Panthers could select in the 2025 NFL Draft.
This weekly series will take a closer look at some of the prospects the Carolina Panthers could select in the 2025 iteration of the Draft. In this series, we’ll only be looking at prospects the Panthers could seriously consider. This week our profile will focus on Ole Miss Rebels defensive lineman Walter Nolen.
Nolen was a unanimous five star recruit coming out of high school and joined the Texas A&M Aggies. He made a decent impact his first two seasons at A&M, but came into his own after transferring to Ole Miss in 2024. There, Nolen helped the Rebs set school records on defense and boast the best run defense in the country. The Consensus All-American notched 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
The main weapon for Nolen as he was wreaking havoc on SEC defenses was his elite acceleration off the line. Against both the pass and the run, Nolen was able to get blockers on their heels then use his strength and leverage to dominate the blocks. His versatility and agility make him a matchup nightmare for opposing offenses. Nolen has lined up everywhere from 0-tech (right over the center) to 5-tech (outside the tackle), allowing him to thrive on stunts and twists. While he still does not have great pass rushing technique, he has been able to use his athleticism and strength to collapse the pocket. With time, he could improve his counter rush moves and hand placement enough to be even more dominant in that area of the game.
What do you think, Panthers fans? If Walter Nolen is available when the Panthers select in the 2025 NFL Draft, should they take him? Sound off in the comments!