The first words heard upon walking up to the Knoxville-area showdown between Powell (Tenn.) and Knoxville Catholic on Thursday night were somewhat expected.
"There's number 99."
The onlooker, directing SI All-American towards the Powell home field, was helping us locate the nation's top-ranked defensive football recruit, Walter Nolen.
Looking a bit slimmer than the last time our staff lied eyes upon the 6'4", 310-pound prospect, he wasted no time getting the crowd behind him pregame and flashed on the first drive of the game, forcing a fumble. Nolen would register a sack, two tackles for loss and nearly a scoop and score in a dramatic rivalry game.