Ole Miss football star taken in first round of latest NFL mock draft

The Ole Miss Rebels are on pause this week after a stuttering start to SEC play, but that doesn’t mean news surrounding the team is quiet.

Earlier this week, ESPN released an updated 2025 NFL mock draft, and Ole Miss took a player in the first round in defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Nolen was projected to go 30th overall to the Houston Texans, making him the fourth defensive tackle in the draft.

You can watch an excerpt from the piece below.

“A true wrecking ball under center is one of the few missing ingredients for an elite football team in Houston. After two disappointing seasons at Texas A&M, Nolen is having a breakout year in his first season at Ole Miss. He already has 2.5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss and 8 run stops. With aggressive hands and a sudden first step, he is always able to beat single blocks at the first level.

Towards the middle of the season, Nolen also generated a lot of hype on the college front. He was named a Midseason All-American by two publications and was also named to the Bednarik Award midseason watch list earlier this week.

The Texas A&M transfer tackle was a crown jewel of the Rebels’ portal class this offseason, joining a number of new faces for defensive coordinator Pete Golding. At the top, Golding added names like Nolen and edge rusher Princely Umanmielen, and he also received transfers from other impactful players like linebacker Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr. and Trey Amos.

Nolen’s addition contributed to the Ole Miss defense allowing just 66.6 yards per game on the ground and a minuscule 2.0 yards per carry. This unit also compiled 24 sacks for a total of 165 yards.

The Rebels are resting during this week’s opener but will be back in action next Saturday at home against the Oklahoma Sooners. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on ABC or ESPN.

READ MORE Ole Miss content on SI:

– Who to Watch: Ole Miss Football Bye Week Viewing Guide

– Can Ole Miss make the College Football Playoff? Here’s why or why not

– Ole Miss football “Swiss Army Knife” Suntarine Perkins is top 10 in QB pressures

– ‘Destructive!’ Ole Miss WR Cayden Lee leans on his teammates after the LSU loss

– Lane Kiffin offers words of encouragement after Ole Miss’ loss to LSU