Walter Nolen III is a strong, silent type.
“I’m not the most talkative person, but every day, I’m going to come in and handle my handle,” he said to reporters following the team’s mini-camp.
But as they say, you have one mouth and two ears, so you should listen twice as much as you talk.
And that’s what the Arizona Cardinals’ 2025 first-round draft pick has been doing since joining the team. With the wealth of knowledge available to Nolen in the form of veterans like Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson, Walter has an edge that not many other defensive rookies can claim.
Walter Nolen is ‘learning every day’ from Cardinals’ veterans
It’s only been six weeks since the NFL Draft, but Nolen says he already “feels like a pro.” The Ole Miss alum noted that he feels right at home thanks to all the veterans on the Cardinals' defense.
“Them all my uncles, man,” he said about Campbell, Tomlinson, Zaven Collins and the rest of the defense that have taken him under their wing. “I’m just in there learning every day,” he said.
“Just being around guys like DT and Calais, I feel like they’re going to take me where I need to get,” he added, “Especially, you know, those on the backend of their careers, I feel like they put me in the spot where they wish they were at.”
One piece of advice that the OGs have given him? “Keep your feet where you are,” he said. “Don’t let nothing get too big and just keep the main thing the main thing.”
Nolen said that he’s been observing the veterans’ habits and incorporating bits and pieces into his own regimen. “How they take care of their body, what they eat, just their daily routines,” he explained. “Just taking something from everybody and adding it to my pot.”
The vets have instilled in Nolen the importance of prioritizing his physical health. “Just take care of your body. That’s your monkey-maker,” he said when relaying their advice. “Just make sure your body is prepared every day to handle what’s going on.”
Nolen Returns The Love
Walter spoke with reporters after Calais Campbell raved over the Cardinals’ rookie class. “This team is special,” the veteran defensive end said. He also praised Walter Nolen’s physical prowess.
“He has unbelievable lateral quickness,” said Campbell. “His quickness is on a different level. And he has good instincts."
When a reporter brought this up to Nolen, he seemed moved by the praise. “I would say it was something I worked on,” he said. For a defensive lineman, it’s crucial to have that speed and control, especially when you need to pivot and take down a running back.
“The year prior, I was told my lateral quickness wasn’t the best. So, to hear that from a good vet, I mean, I’m pretty excited for myself.”
Ultimately, the veterans and coaching staff have made Walter feel at home. “They want the defensive linemen to make plays, and that’s what I like to do,” he said. “So I feel like I’m in a good spot.”