Ole Miss Lands Massive Christmas Eve Commitment From Texas A&M Transfer Walter Nolen
The Portal King is at it again.
On Christmas Eve, Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels landed their ninth commitment from the NCAA Transfer Portal, securing former Texas A&M Aggies star, Walter Nolen.
Nolen, the 2022 No. 1 overall recruit and top prospect in the 2024 portal, played in 22 games during his two seasons with the Aggies. In 2022, he served as a rotational specialist before becoming the star of the trenches in 2023.
In 12 games, Nolen totaled 37 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. His ability to close gaps helped A&M feature one of the top FBS run defenses and added a second element to the pass rush up the middle.
Walter Nolen
© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nolen, who was born in Memphis and spent the first years of his high school career in Olive Branch, Miss., originally committed to A&M over other top SEC programs, including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Tennessee.
He was the highest-rated recruit to sign with A&M since 2000 and was the headline addition to the Aggies' No. 1 recruiting class in 2022.
![South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr. (3) rushes for yards against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback TaRiq Bracy (28) during the first quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl of an NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish held off the South Carolina Gamecocks 45-38. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Jki 123022 Ncaaf Nd Usc Cp 71](https://www.si.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_xy_center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_640%2Cx_1053%2Cy_391/MjAyNzQ3NTA3NTczMjY5NTE2/usatsi_19706634.jpg)
He now makes his way back to his old stomping grounds in North Mississippi where he will join eight other elite transfers, including No. 1 transfer edge Princely Umanmielen, Tennessee safety Tamarion McDonald and edge Tyler Baron, Oklahoma safety Key Lawrence, Illinois defensive back Tahveon Nicholson, Arkansas linebacker Chris Paul Jr., Indiana Safety Louis Moore and Southern Miss offensive lineman Gerquan Scott.
The Rebels also will get back current roster stars Tre Harris, Caden Preiskorn, Jordan Watkins, J.J. Pegues, Suntarine Perkins, Trey Washington, and others.
Nolen, who will have two years of eligibility remaining at Ole Miss, was the first of several high-profile defenders from the Aggies 2022 class to leave following the changing of the guard at A&M.
Now, he joins what has rapidly become one of the most talented rosters in the SEC
