Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen named consensus All-American
INDIANAPOLIS – Ole Miss football junior defensive tackle Walter Nolen has been recognized as a consensus All-American, after earning a spot on all five of the major All-America teams recognized by the NCAA for its consensus list.
Nolen is only the 14th consensus All-American in Ole Miss football history, the first since wide receiver Elijah Moore in 2020. Nolen is also only the third defensive player in Ole Miss history to earn the distinction alongside linebacker Patrick Willis (2006) and cornerback Senquez Golson (2014).
Nolen is currently a member of eight All-America squads for the 2024 season, landing on teams by the Associated Press (first team), Football Writers Association of America (first team), The Sporting News (first team), The Athletic (first team), Walter Camp (second team), AFCA (second team), CBS Sports/247Sports (second team) and the College Football Network (honorable mention).
Nolen ranks among the best interior linemen in the nation, as evidenced by his appearance as a finalist for the Outland Trophy. This season, Nolen is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss at 14.0, ranks third on the team with 6.5 sacks and fifth on the team at 48 total tackles – alongside three pass breakups, three QB hurries and two fumble recoveries.
In SEC play, Nolen leads all conference defenders at 12.0 TFL and ranks tied for fifth at 6.0 sacks. In the PFF metrics, Nolen ranks as the No. 5 run stopper in all of college football at a 91.7 season grade – which ranks second among interior defensive linemen and leads all SEC linemen. He also owns a 12.3 percent run-stop rate, which leads all SEC defensive linemen and ranks second in the FBS.
Consensus All-Americans, Ole Miss History
1947: Charlie Conerly, TB
1953: Crawford Mims, G
1959: Charlie Flowers, FB
1960: Jake Gibbs, QB*
1962: Jim Dunaway, T
1979: Jim Miller, P
1992: Everett Lindsay, OT
1998: Rufus French, TE*
2001: Terrence Metcalf, OT
2006: Patrick Willis, LB
2008: Michael Oher, OT*
2014: Senquez Golson, CB*
2020: Elijah Moore, WR
2024: Walter Nolen, DT
* Unanimous selection
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.
