VISITORS LIST: Updates on key recruits and transfers who visited Ole Miss this past weekend, including No. 1 DL Walter Nolen

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss football had a big weekend, perhaps not in numbers, but definitely in terms of top players taking a visit to Oxford who could potentially impact the Rebel program in the coming years.

(Keep up with our TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER for all the latest Ole Miss football comings and goings!)

Of the visitors throughout the weekend, three were current high school recruits and the other three were potential transfers. The two transfers from Tennessee, Tyler Baron and Tamarion McDonald, arrived on campus Thursday and committed before they left. The third transfer on campus this weekend was the nation’s No. 1 transfer portal player, Walter Nolen.

The Rebels also got a commit from 2024 OT Kavion Broussard, a visitor this weekend who flipped to Ole Miss from Miami. One late visitor is Towns McGough, a 2024 kicker from Auburn High School (Ala.).

Visitors List

Walter Nolen | Defensive lineman, A&M Transfer

The No. 1 overall player in the portal, defensive lineman Walter Nolen, has by all accounts enjoyed his visit in Oxford this weekend. Several of the national analysts have put in crystal balls for Nolen to transfer to Ole Miss as it appears his visit went well. On3, for example, has Nolen with a 96.3 percent probability of transferring to Ole Miss and a 3.6% chance of transferring to Oregon. 

The 6-foot-4, 285-pound Nolen was the overall number two player in the country coming out of high school and is the number one player in the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. NIL will, of course, play a factor in Nolen’s recruitment. Nolen, originally from Olive Branch, Mississippi, has been in contact with Pete Golding since he was a high school recruit.

Nolen has tallied 66 tackles (37 solos), five sacks and a forced fumble during two seasons at Texas A&M. This past year he increased his production with totals of 37 tackles and four sacks. Nolen recently visited Oregon — and left without committing.

Kavion Broussard – Class of 2024 Offensive tackle, COMMITTED TO OLE MISS

Kavion Broussard, a native of Zachary, Louisiana and a Miami Hurricanes commit, decommitted from Miami on Friday and committed to Ole Miss on his visit Saturday.  He’s the No. 17 overall recruit in the state of Louisiana.

The 6-foot-6, 276-pound tackle had been committed to Miami since August 13. He had offers from, among others, Florida State, Missouri, Texas Tech, Arkansas State, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, TCU and Tulane, among others.

Shamaar Darden – Class of 2024 ATH, Tupelo High School

Darden is a 6-foot-1, 165-pound athlete from Tupelo (Miss.) High School. He attended Ole Miss’ Junior Day back in January and was offered by safeties coach Wes Neighbors that day. He committed on June 26. He was in attendance when Ole Miss beat both LSU and A&M at Vaught-Hemingway this season.

Pete Golding is very high on Darden, who committed to Ole Miss back in June. He is ranked the No. 28 overall player in the state of Mississippi in a talent-rich 2024 class. When we spoke earlier this summer with Darden, he indicated at that time the Rebels have recruited him as a safety and corner.

Tyler Baron – Tennessee transfer EDGE – COMMITTED TO OLE MISS!

Tyler Baron, a Tennessee EDGE arrived in Oxford Thursday. He announced his commitment Saturday.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior recorded six sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and 28 total tackles this past season. The physicality, size, and speed brought by Baron to the defensive line would present a number of threats for opposing offenses. The Knoxville native has spent his entire college career at Tennessee and will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Tamarion McDonald – Tennessee transfer safety – COMMITTED TO OLE MISS!

The second player out of Tennessee who visited Ole Miss this weekend is Tamarion McDonald, who is originally from Memphis. He committed to Ole Miss on Saturday.

McDonald is 6-foot-2, 208 pounds with a special amount of versatility presented in his game. Tamarion can play both defensive back and safety, which he would do if he chose to be a Rebel. In 2023, the stud made 40 tackles with four pass deflections, one sack, and one interception. Depth and potential in the secondary are two things that will absolutely benefit Pete Golding in 2024, and Tamarion brings them both.

Towns McGough – Class of 2024 – Kicker, Auburn High School (Ala.)

The 6-f00t, 180-pound kicker from Auburn (Ala.) High School has been in Oxford this weekend per reports. He has offers from Ole Miss, Auburn, South Alabama, Tennessee, and Western Kentucky.

Stay tuned to The Rebel Walk for updates on all the latest recruiting and transfer news!

Next Up: 

Ole Miss and Penn State kick off at 11:00 a.m. (CT) on Saturday, December 30, in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

Evelyn Van Pelt

Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.