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Former SEC DL, 1st-round pick in 2025, Walter Nolen named to pup list to start NFL rookie season

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Former Texas A&M and Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen will have to wait for a few more weeks to begin his NFL career.

Nolen, the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, has been dealing with a calf injury over the past several weeks. After being named to the physically unable to perform list, he was held out of practice.

Unfortunately for Nolen, he won’t be available for the Cardinals’ season opener against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7. He will remain on the PUP list, the team announced on Tuesday, meaning he will miss at least the first 4 games of the year.

Nolen, considered by 247Sports’ Composite Rankings the nation’s No. 2 recruit in the class of 2022, began his college career at Texas A&M and spent 2 seasons with the Aggies. He totaled 66 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, and 5.0 sacks.

Weeks after the firing of Jimbo Fisher, Nolen entered the transfer portal and landed at Ole Miss. There, he continued to establish himself as one of college football’s top defensive ends, posting 48 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks. He was named 1st-team All-SEC and a consensus All-American as a result.

The Cardinals played to an 8-9 record in 2024, missing the playoffs for the 3rd straight season.

Sydney Hunte

Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.