Kentucky’s Top Pass Rusher Steven Soles Jr. to Enter Transfer Portal Following Coaching Change
Kentucky is losing one of its most promising young defenders just weeks after a major shake-up at the top of the program. Sophomore edge rusher Steven Soles Jr., the Wildcats’ most productive pass rusher last season, plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens next month.
The departure comes on the heels of Kentucky’s decision to part ways with longtime head coach Mark Stoops, a move that has already begun to ripple through the roster. And Soles, a Knoxville native and former standout at Powell High School, is one of the first key contributors to make his exit official.
At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Soles brought a relentless motor off the edge in 2025. While there’s some discrepancy in his official sack totals-ESPN credits him with 3.5 sacks, while Pro Football Focus (PFF) logs him for six-either number would’ve led the Wildcats. PFF also tracked him with 20 total pressures, reinforcing his impact as a disruptive force in the backfield.
Injuries limited his availability late in the season-he went down early against Texas and missed the following week’s matchup with Tennessee-but when he was on the field, Soles made his presence felt. He logged 184 total snaps in 2025 and earned a 78.1 PFF grade, the third-highest mark on Kentucky’s defense among players with at least 150 snaps. That’s no small feat for a sophomore still adjusting to the speed and complexity of SEC football.
Across his first two seasons in Lexington, Soles totaled 16 tackles, between 4.5 and seven sacks depending on the source, and two forced fumbles. Regardless of the exact stat line, the tape shows a player with burst, bend, and a knack for getting to the quarterback-traits that translate in any system.
Coming out of high school, Soles was a three-star recruit ranked No. 977 nationally in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He slotted in as the No. 68 edge rusher in the country and the No. 31 overall player in Tennessee. Despite playing his high school ball just outside of Knoxville and helping lead Powell to a state championship in 2021, he didn’t receive an offer from Tennessee during his recruitment.
Now, with Soles hitting the portal, there’s a natural curiosity about whether the Vols might take a second look. Tennessee is set to lose top LEO Josh Josephs to the NFL this offseason, and while they return rising senior Caleb Herring and rising junior Jordan Ross-both of whom played significant snaps in 2025-the Vols typically rotate three LEOs in their defensive front.
That means there could be room for a player like Soles to step in and contribute immediately, especially given his SEC experience and proven production. Whether Tennessee-or another Power Five program-makes a push remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: Soles won’t be short on interest.
For Kentucky, this is a tough loss. The Wildcats are in the midst of a transitional period, and losing a young, ascending pass rusher only adds to the challenges ahead.
For Soles, though, the door is wide open. He’s shown he can produce at a high level in the SEC.
Now, he’ll look to do it somewhere new.