Tag: Walter Nolan

Mock Draft Monday: Bucs get defensive overhaul from PFF

PFF focused its mock draft on the Bucs’ defense, which seems to be a popular trend for the team’s draft plan projections.

Mock draft Monday is going to look a little different here, in part because PFF dropped their latest piece on Monday. Trevor Sikkema published a three-round mock draft, so we will discuss those picks he made.

PFF focused its mock draft on the Bucs’ defense, which seems to be a popular trend for the team’s draft plan projections.

The mock draft has the Bucs making three picks in the first three rounds, all of them are on defense. The 16th overall pick, which the team is projected to own, has them landing Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolan. Sikkema writes on Nolan that he, “Is more than just a traditional tackle—he’s a former 5-star defensive lineman with elite athletic potential at 6-foot-3, 305 pounds. His blend of burst and physicality allows him to line up as a 4i or 5-tech defensive end, making him an excellent fit to bolster the Buccaneers’ pass rush. . .”

He also has the Bucs adding at the linebacker position with Nolan’s Ole Miss teammate Chris Paul Jr. and then in the secondary with Lathan Ransom at safety from Ohio State. Both of those players come from defenses where they are leaders on that side of the ball and are proven playmakers.

Both of those are something that this Bucs defense needs an injection of.

Matt Miller’s latest 2024 NFL mock draft has Vikings getting DL help

In his latest mock draft for ESPN, Matt Miller gave the Vikings more help on the defensive line alongside Harrison Phillips. 

The 2025 NFL Draft will be critical for the sustained success of this Minnesota Vikings team. They will be getting back J.J. McCarthy, and Dallas Turner is expected to have a larger role, so a first-round pick could come in with two others.

In his latest mock draft for ESPN, Matt Miller gave the Vikings more help on the defensive line alongside Harrison Phillips.

Miller has the Vikings drafting Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen with the 28th overall pick. He writes, “The Vikings should address the trenches with their first-round pick; the debate will just be whether they would focus on the offensive or defensive side. . . He’s built in the mold of a versatile 3-technique but also has 5-technique ability at 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, sporting active hands, length, quickness and strength. His All-Pro potential would be welcomed in Brian Flores’ complex defensive scheme.”

Nolen is the type of interior presence that works well with Phillips. Where Phillips is a run defender, Nolen can take advantage of his attention and become a reliable interior pass rusher. Creating pressure up the middle frees up the edges to get on-on-ones, and from their, chaos ensues.

There is a lot to like with this pick for the Vikings.

Watch: Walter Nolan visits Studio 12 to discuss his growth at an athlete

Watch: Former Top recruit Walter Nolan sits down for great interview with the crew at Studio 12 where they discussed a number of topics.

Former 2022 five-star defensive lineman Walter Nolan fielded some great questions from veteran interviewers Will Johnson and Andrew Monaco during their podcast at Studio 12. Right off the bat, like Andrew, I also noticed that Nolan is sporting the number “0” which is a far change from the “88” he wore during his freshman campaign.

When questioned about the number change, I was expecting the custom answers of how aesthetically pleasing is it. However, Walter gave the type of answer you hope to hear from a maturing player that is close to taking the next step. He told the crew the Zero represents “Zero excuses”. He felt that last season he was making too many excuses and had to change his mindset to grow.

Nolan also went on to discuss a variety of topics ranging from how good he believes the defensive line can be to how the experience gained last year will have them ready for this season. Please take a few minutes to check out this solid interview with the very talented Aggie Walter Nolan.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

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Texas A&M’s Mid-season report card: Defense

Texas A&M’s Mid-season report card: Defense

Texas A&M is in the midst of a much-needed break as the team has played six games so far this season, sitting at a disappointing 3-3 with another six games left to show that the program is indeed progressing, just at a gradual speed.

So, as we are officially at the mid-point of the 2022 season for the maroon and white, Aggies Wire is here to hand out a couple of mid-season grades, focusing on the offense and defense so far as the team will prepare to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks on Oct. 22nd next weekend.

Defense: B+ 

Texas A&M has been well known for its historic defenses going back to the 1990s in the “wrecking crew” heyday but in the last couple of decades, they’ve been somewhat stagnant due to a lack of talent in recruiting and coaching, although the last three seasons under Mike Elko and the current regime led by D.J Durkin have fans feeling like the wrecking crew days are finally making their way back.

So far this season, Durkin has led one of the youngest defenses in the country to the 60th ranking nationally, and an impressive 16th-ranked pass defense ranking so far this season. Led by senior safety Demani Richardson, junior Nose tackle McKinnley Jackson, junior defensive back Antonio Johnson, and now the ascending sophomore safety Jardin Gilbert, the defensive unit has taken on a “bend but don’t break” mentality through the first six games, while having their best collective game so far in their recent 24-20 loss to Alabama, accounting for 4 takeaways while holding the Crimson Tide to 111 yards passing.

The headliner for the defense so far has been contributions from the true freshmen defenders, and members of the historic 2022 recruiting class. In nearly every game this season, win or lose, at least one freshman has made a singular impact, whether it was safety Bryce Anderson against Miami (8 tackles, 5 solo tackles), Shemar Stewart against Arkansas (4 tackles, 2 solo tackles, 1 sack), or the multitude of freshmen who completely showed out against Alabama, these young men will continue to receive valuable reps for the rest of the season, and continue to grow and produce at a high rate going into the 2023 season.

Texas A&M’s offense will continue to be fairly scrutinized until improvements are seen in the next six games, but overall, the defense has been solid, showing immense potential in pass rush and even run defense, an area that has struggled the most with this season. Again, this is a young defense, but man oh man, they’re going to be very good very soon.

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Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Three Texas A&M Aggies included in ESPN’s preseason true freshman All-America team

Evan Stewart, Walter Nolan, and Jake Johnson are all primed to be major contributors during the 2022 season

Texas A&M’s 2022 recruiting class continues to garner preseason recognition, as the 29-player haul is cemented in college football recruiting history as the greatest class of all time.

Littered with 5-Star talent on both offense and defense, three players stuck out the most for ESPN to be included in their recent 2022 preseason true freshman All-America team, composed of Wide receiver Evan Stewart (No.13 ranked player), Defensive tackle Walter Nolan (No.1 ranked player), and Tight end Jake Johnson (95th ranked player). As it presently stands, Stewart is potentially slated to start at the X receiver spot on offense for the Aggies, while Nolan and Johnson look to carve out significant rotational roles.

ESPN writers Tom VanHaaren and Tom Luginbill authored the list, describing each Texas A&M freshman selection in the following manner:

Evan Stewart, Wide receiver (picked by Luginbill and VanHaaren):

“Theres alot of hype surrounding Stewart, and so far, it appears to be real. The Aggies have a need for game-breakers, and with his 10-5-meter track speed and ability to stretch the field, Stewart should join Ainias Smith as one of the top two targets for whoever is player quarterback this fall”- Luginbill

“The Aggies lost tight end Jalen Wydermyer, running back Isaiah Spiller, and receivers Demond Demas and Caleb Chapman, who all factored into the pass game last season. Stewart will have Haynes King and Max Johnson at quarterback, so stability under center should give Stewart a chance to succeed early.”-VanHarren

Walter Nolan, Defensive lineman (picked by Luginbill and VanHaaren): 

“We might as well include the entire class of defensive lineman here for the Aggies–they landed the Nos.1 and 2 defensive tackles and defensive end recruits–but Nolan gets the nod due to his tireless work ethic and competitive temperment. He’s a worker with talent and that’s a scary combination in a young player”–Luginbill

“As Luginbill mentioned, Texas A&M hauled in a ridiculously talented defensive line class with four five-star lineman and seven ranked in the ESPN 300. Nolan was the No.1 propsect overall and can help fill a void upfront this season.”–VanHaaren

Jake Johnson, Tight end (picked by Luginbill) 

“Johnson may be the most heralded tight end in the Aggies 2022 class, but the reality is that Texas A&M could see three true freshmen occupy the position this fall with Donovan Green and Theo Melin Ohrstrom. For now, Johnson is a jumbo-sized WR (6-5, 210) morphing into a tight end.”

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions.
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Three Aggies are named to On3’s 2022 Preseason True Freshman All-American Team

Three Aggies are named to On3’s 2022 Preseason True Freshman All-American Team

Texas A&M’s 2022 recruiting class is hopefully on its way to reaching legendary status in the next couple of years, as it is collectively the most talented recruiting class in history on the national stage, and one of the reasons the Aggies are expected to make some noise on the field this season.

Today, On3, one of the leaders in college football recruiting, released their 2022 Preseason True Freshman All-American Team, including three electrifying Texas A&M freshmen from the 2022 recruiting class, which was comprised of 5-Star Wide receiver Evan Stewart, 5-Star Tight end Jake Johnson, and 5-Star Defensive tackle Walter Nolan. Here is On3 writer Charles Power’s explication for each player selected.

Evan Stewart, Wide receiver:

Evan Stewart appears to be Texas A&M’s top pass-catcher entering the season. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect was the Aggies’ offensive MVP from spring practice and caught eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in the spring game. Stewart’s ascent has continued into fall camp, as he’s earned steady praise from Jimbo Fisher and anyone associated with the Texas A&M program. The Frisco (Texas) Liberty product is a dynamic receiver who pairs high-end athleticism with advanced route-running ability and ball skills. Stewart figures to be a high-volume target for Texas A&M as early as week one. He ranked as the No. 8 overall prospect and No. 2 wide receiver in the 2022 On3 Consensus.

Jake Johnson, Tight end: 

Jake Johnson was the most technically advanced route-runner and pass catcher at tight end in the 2022 cycle. The NFL legacy has a nuanced game, with the ability to create separation within his routes while showing a large catch radius at the high school level. Johnson is one of three talented true freshmen tight ends in College Station along with Donovan Green and Theo Melin Ohrstrom. We know Jimbo Fisher loves targeting tight ends in the passing game, and our feeling is Johnson is the most skilled pass-catcher of the group on campus at this time. The talent is there to provide another needed target early on. Johnson was the No. 73 overall prospect and No. 1 tight end in the 2022 On3 Consensus.

Walter Nolan, Defensive Tackle:

Walter Nolen was the headliner of Texas A&M’s historic 2022 signing class — one that included four Five-Star Plus+ prospects and nine On3 Consensus five-stars. The Powell (Tenn.) High product has missed some of fall camp with an injury but is working his way back into action. Nolen has cut significant weight and is down to under 300 pounds after getting up over 340 prior to his senior season. Even though he’s playing on a defensive line that is very likely the deepest group at the position nationally, we would not be surprised to see Nolen make an impact once he gets up to speed. The On3 Consensus’ No. 1 prospect in the cycle has a unique combination of size, athleticism, power and pass rush ability.

As all three freshmen have impressed during fall camp, Evan Stewart is steadily in the running for a starting spot at the X wide receiver postion, while Johnson and Nolan are currently seen as high-end rotational players during their first season.

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Use ’em if you got ’em: Four potential Aggie true freshmen standouts

Use ’em if you got ’em: Four potential Aggie true freshmen standouts

The Texas A&M Football program has been absolutely obliterating the recruiting trail during the last two cycles, strategically plotting out their dominance since Jimbo Fisher touched ground in College Station, Texas in December of 2017. Since then, the program has steadily climbed the recruiting ranks year by year, signing a handful of 5-star talents each season, culminating in what is currently seen as the greatest recruiting class in not only program history, but the greatest of any recruiting class to date.

Now, as any recruiting nerd will tell you, on paper, these classes are something to be very excited about, but in order for them to hold up over time, the highly ranked players they contain must produce on the gridiron, with a select few contributing as soon as they step on the field for the first time. For the upcoming 2022 season, here are the four true freshmen who have a chance to compete for snaps right away:

1. Evan Stewart (Wide Receiver): As one of the top ranked WRs and athletes in the 2022 class, Stewart made his name known to Aggie fans everywhere during the spring game, catching 7 passes for 75 yards, while making a number of eye popping plays throughout the game. At 6’1″, 175, Stewart is a leaner wide receiver, but as a former track star, has the speed and athleticism to get on top of defenders and separate at a high rate, becoming an instant deep threat on any play.

2. Anthony Lucas (Defensive End): With Michael Clemons, DeMarvin Leal, and Jayden Peevy all leaving for the NFL,  Lucas, who stands at 6’5″, 275 has the chance to make an immediate impact off the edge in multiple fronts,  quickly showing his ability in the spring game, accounting for 8 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 tackles for loss. With incredible burst for his size, accompanied by great hand use and pad level, Lucas has the chance to become a scary option off the edge from the start.

3. Walter Nolan (Defensive Line): As the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 class, Nolan has a chance to join the defensive rotation sooner than later. At 6’5″, 300 pounds, Nolan has the size to push the pocket with speed to power paired with strong hands while providing a violent disposition defensively. With the defensive line facing departures, a “youth movement” of sorts may take shape with other players such as Lebbeus Overton, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, Anthony Lucas and Shemar Stewart, and Nolan has the opportunity to lead that group in snaps from day 1.

4. Chris Marshall (Wide Receiver): Is is just me, or is Chris Marshall the most underrated player in the class? with Caleb Chapman entering the transfer portal, Size on the boundary is sorely needed for the Aggies, and with Marshall standing at 6’4″, 200 pounds, he has the the speed, athleticism, and catch radius to become a nightmare matchup for defensive backs straight out of the chute.

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Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty