Steven Soles is bringing exactly the kind of edge Arkansas wanted into its defense.
The Kentucky transfer has landed in the Razorbacks’ new JACK role, a hybrid spot that asks a defender to rush the passer and handle some coverage duties, and his track record suggests he’s built for it. At 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds, the junior put together a strong season getting after quarterbacks, and his nickname - “SackEm” - fits the production.
Across 22 career games, Soles has logged 33 quarterback pressures, seven sacks, three hits, 23 hurries, two forced fumbles, two pass deflections and a 23.7% pressure rate. In two seasons at Kentucky, he also posted 16 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two pass breakups.
For a Razorback defense trying to add some bite after last season’s porous showing, new defensive coordinator Ron Roberts sees Soles as a physical presence who can help right away. Roberts said Monday that Soles plays the game “violently and physical,” and added that the staff thinks there’s still more to unlock.
"He's a character, He enjoys practice, enjoys football, you know, on a daily basis," Roberts said on Monday. "He really wants to be good.
You know, I think he's just-he's just. Hopefully, I think he's hopefully found a spot where his light can shine and he can be himself.
"He'll [have] an impact in the passing game but I expect to him to [have] an impact in the run game as well. You know he's been a pleasure to coach.
Again, he he works every day. He's the same guy every day.
He comes in with a great attitude. And he's you know, and he plays the game violently and physical."
Soles had to work to separate himself from promising junior Charlie Collins, but he ultimately earned the starting job after the second scrimmage. Roberts pointed to fit and size in certain defensive looks, along with the simplest separator of all: consistency.
"[We] probably set them, like it comes down to it.. we grade practice every day. Every rep a kid takes the field, we give them a grade," Roberts said.
"Then, you know, so Soles got the job because he was more consistent, and that's what it comes down to. Any one of the positions.
That's what what it comes down to. It's consistency.
"How many times can you do your job, you know? And and so every one of our guys, and that's why we say we went to competition.
To continue, the competition, continue to go out and play this ball game, and whoever grades the best, that's the guy that's going to start the next week. You know who goes out there and does their job.
So you're performing."
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Their motion for a preliminary injunction has now been pushed to Sept. 10, keeping the case alive while their long-term status remains uncertain. The dispute ties back to the NCAAs new 5-for-5 eligibility rule, which gives Division I athletes five years to complete five seasons, and players from the 2022 class like Wooden and Williams are among those still navigating how that change applies to them. [Read more 🡒]