Walter Nolen, Jack Velling, and the Latest Portal News

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports | By Tony Thomas | Last updated 12/7/23

By Tony Thomas

The Transfer Portal is the wild, wild west. Some players belong with the Magnificent Seven, while others belong with the Apple Dumpling Gang.

Today, we continue to report on the mass exodus that is plaguing college football teams from coast to coast.

DL Walter Nolen

Texas A&M Aggies

6'4", 320 lbs.

Nolen is a former 5-star prospect and one of the highest-ranked recruits ever to sign with the Aggies. The Knoxville, TN native recorded 37 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks.

Against Arkansas, Nolen racked up six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks in a 34-22 win.

Among the possible destinations for Nolen are Tennessee, Michigan, Georgia, LSU, Oregon, and Texas.

DL Samuel Okunola

Pitt Panthers

6'4", 245 lbs.

A freshman, Okunola registered 18 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks, and one forced fumble for the Panthers.

In a 38-21 win over Louisville, Okunola recorded four tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, and forced a fumble.

Okunola has drawn interest from Arkansas, Mississippi State, Washington, Minnesota, USC, Florida State, Cal, Michigan State, Missouri, Ole Miss, and Colorado.

TE Jack Velling

Oregon State Beavers

6'4", 241 lbs.

Velling set an Oregon State record for touchdown catches by a tight end with eight this season (which led the team). He caught 29 passes for 438 yards, which was good enough for third on the team.

Against the Cal Bears, Velling caught four passes in the game, and three of those catches went for touchdowns in a 52-40 win.

Velling has two years of eligibility remaining. He could follow his former head coach Jonathan Smith to East Lansing and play for Michigan State. Tight end is a position of need for the Spartans.

Chase Bisontis

Texas A&M Aggies

6'6", 315 lbs.

Bisontis started all 12 games for the Aggies this season and earned Freshman All-American honors. The New Jersey native has several potential landing spots, including Rutgers, Ohio State, LSU, Miami, Georgia, and Arkansas.

WR Zavion Thomas

Mississippi State Bulldogs

5'111", 190 lbs.

Thomas played a dual role for the Bulldogs, as he also returned kicks. As a receiver, Thomas caught 40 passes for 503 yards and a touchdown (2^nd on the team). In a 27-13 loss to Auburn, Thomas caught nine passes for 112 yards and a touchdown (a 12-yard average).

As a kick returner, he returned six kicks for 202 yards and a touchdown. Thomas ran back two kicks for 115 yards and a touchdown in a 51-10 loss to Texas A&M.

Thomas so far has offers from LSU, Auburn, and Arkansas.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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