Kentucky football’s top pass rusher is leaving the program after the Wildcats fired Mark Stoops. Sophomore edge rusher Steven Soles Jr. plans to enter the transfer portal when it officially opens next month.
Soles was productive in his sophomore year at Kentucky and is a Knoxville native. He was a standout at Powell High School and was a sophomore on the Panthers’ 2021 state championship team.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound edge rusher was Kentucky’s top pass rusher last season. There is a discrepancy in stats regarding Soles. His ESPN profile says he totaled 3.5 sacks during the 2025 season while PFF credits him with six sacks and 20 total pressure. Either sack mark would have been a team-high.
During his first two collegiate seasons, Soles totaled 16 tackles, either seven or 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
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Soles earned a 78.1 PFF grade in 184 total snaps during the 2025 season. He posted the third highest PFF grade on Kentucky’s defense amongst players who totaled 150-plus snaps. Soles missed nearly two games due to injury, suffering an injury in the first quarter against Texas and missing Kentucky’s game against Tennessee the next week.
Soles ranked as a three-star recruit and the No. 977 player in the 2024 recruiting class according to the 247sports composite rankings. He ranked as the nation’s 68th best edge rusher and the No. 31 player in the state of Tennessee. Josh Heupel and the Vols did not offer Soles out of high school.
It’s unclear whether Tennessee would have interest in Soles out of the transfer portal. The Vols lose top LEO Josh Josephs to the NFL after this season. They’re currently in line to return rising senior Caleb Herring and rising junior Jordan Ross who each had significant roles last season.
However, Tennessee likes to play three LEOs over the course of the season. They could have someone already on the roster emerge or pursue someone who plans to enter the transfer portal.
