Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolen is entering the transfer portal according to a report from On3 Sports’ Hayes Fawcett on Sunday night.
Nolen was highly targeted by Tennessee on the recruiting trail and was ranked as the No. 1 player in the class of 2022 according to On3 Sports. Nolen helped lead Powell High School (Knoxville) to the Panthers’ first state championship in 2021.
Nolen found significant playing time in his freshman and sophomore seasons and will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman has 66 total tackles in 22 games for the Aggies over two years. Nolen upped his game from his freshman to his sophomore year with 29 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one sack in his first year and 37 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks in his second year.
“First off I wanna thank God for putting me in the position that I am,” Nolen posted to social media. “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 two years of eligibility. My recruitment is wide open!”
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The Memphis native returned to Knoxville this past season when the Aggies visited Neyland Stadium for a cross-divisional matchup against Tennessee.
Nolen recorded three solo tackles and one assisted tackle during the Aggiess’ 20-13 loss but was hurt late in the fourth quarter. Nolen was carted off the field but received fortunate news as the injury was not as bad as originally feared. The sophomore defensive lineman returned for Texas A&M’s next game against South Carolina following a well-timed bye week.
Tennessee was originally named a Top 3 finalist for Nolen along with Texas A&M and Georgia. Nolen committed to Texas A&M on November 6, 2021, but did take an unofficial visit to Tennessee on Nov. 13 and an official visit on Dec. 4. Tennessee was the only school that Nolen visited after already committed to Texas A&M.
The official fall transfer period will last for 30 days from Dec. 4, 2023- Jan. 2, 2024. Tennessee will take on Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for the latest Tennessee transfer portal news and the latest from the marquee names in and around the transfer portal.
