One to Know: 2025 OT Warren Nolen

One to Know: 2025 OT Warren Nolen

Being a Divison 1 college football prospect is one of the most intriguing times in a young person's life. From camps, to the travels, to building relationships with college coaches from across the country, the process is as unique as any. Most families get to go through the process one time, but the theme of younger siblings following in their older siblings' footsteps has become more common of late.

For Walter and Yolunda Nolen's family, that is already the case with their sons Walter and Warren. Walter Nolen is a rising-senior defensive lineman at St. Benedicts at Auburndale and arguably the best prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. Warren Nolen is just in 8th grade at St. Georges School but already holds three Division 1 offers as an offensive tackle.

Walter Nolen with numerous reporters interviewing him at the Under Armour Atlanta Camp / Matt Ray- Sports Illustrated

"It is a little crazy," Warren said of already having offers from Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee. "I am learning. It is like I am taking after my big brother Walter."  

"When I got my first offer, I was just doing homework at the kitchen table," he said. "Coach Pruitt called my family and was like; we want to offer Warren. I was kind of shocked because I am 13 and in 8th grade and got my first offer."

What was the message from his older brother Walter once the process started for Warren?

"To keep doing what I am doing, keep up my school work, stay in shape, and keep working hard."

"I asked him how does he feel, what should I do, and stuff like that," he added on seeking out advice from his brother.

The first offer for Warren came in December of 2020, and it signaled the start of another chapter in the recruiting world for the Nolen family.

"As a couple, we didn't plan this at all, so it is a huge blessing," Yolunda Nolen said.

“For me, it is kind of overwhelming and unreal at the same time, like when I am hearing different projections of what Walter and Warren are going to do," she added. "They have been playing their whole life, for me, it is like on Walter's aspect, it is overwhelming, and he is right here getting ready to go to college, so we have all of these people reaching out to us. On the other hand, we are trying to keep Warren from being stressed and knowing he doesn't have to follow exactly in his brother's footsteps, and making sure they are both happy and healthy kids. It has been a nice experience, though, overall."

"It used to be exciting," her husband, Walter, added. I used to be shocked. Now it has become an everyday thing." Something the family has become a bit numb to as the process wages on.

3 tournaments and 3x champs. Quit playing with dude. Best offensive lineman in c/o 25. #HEGOTNEXT pic.twitter.com/RMX0trns8d

— BigWalter79 (@BigWalter79) January 11, 2021

"I am still surprised Walter is as good as he is, and Warren is doing as well as he is, but at the same time, they've been doing it for so long, I am always pushing them to do more. I mean, it is just our day-to-day routine," Yolunda said.  

It comes as a bit of a surprise to Yolunda, but at the end of the day, there is little surprise Warren is already drawing interest from college coaches early on because, much like his brother, he is bigger, stronger, and more agile than most his age.

"I think they like how I am much bigger than I am supposed to be for my age because I move really well for my size," Warren said of what he thinks coaches like about his game.

However, Warren thinks there is another facet of his game that sets him apart. "I think what sets me apart is I look at the person I am going up against every play, what he is doing, and how he does it on each play, and I use it against him."

While Warren and Walter don't line up across from each other at this point, it is something that could come, and Warren would embrace.

"I am looking forward to it. I am, really I am. I think it will be fun."