Hogs pick up LB Soles from Kentucky

Steven Soles Jr.
Linebacker | 6-2 | 235 | Powell, Tenn. | Powell HS / Kentucky

At Kentucky
2025 (SOPHOMORE): Played in 11 games, recording 11 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles … Tied for team lead with 3.5 sacks … Started the season with a bang, recording two sacks and forcing two fumbles in season opener vs. Toledo (Aug. 30) … Made two tackles vs. Ole Miss (Sept. 6) … Recorded two tackles, including a sack, vs. Texas (Oct. 18) … Notched a tackle with a half tackle for loss at Auburn (Nov. 1) … Registered two quarterback hurries vs. Florida (Nov. 8) … Made one stop vs. Tennessee Tech (Nov. 15) and two more tackles in season finale vs. Louisville (Nov. 29).

2024 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in 11 games, making five tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack … Recorded his first career sack vs. South Carolina (Sept. 7) … Made one stop vs. Ohio (Sept. 21) … Logged a pair of tackles, including one TFL, at Florida (Oct. 19) … Tallied one tackle vs. Murray State (Nov. 16).

HIGH SCHOOL: A consensus three-star prospect … ESPN ranked him as the No. 70 linebacker nationally and No. 21 overall player in Tennessee … Four-year starter at Powell HS … As a senior, recorded 66 tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven sacks and 38 quarterback hurries, all team highs … Added one interception, one fumble recovery and blocked one punt and one field goal … Helped his team reach the Tennessee Division I Class 5A quarterfinals, finishing 9-4 … Named the Class 5A Region 2 Most Valuable Player, The Knoxville Focus and Coaches Poll Player of the Year and a semifinalist for Class 5A Mr. Football in 2023 … Chose Kentucky over offers from Alabama, Miami and Tulane.

PERSONAL: Son of Antonia Whitmore and Steven Soles Sr. … Has four siblings: Shamiyah Whitmore, Markise Witt Jr., Key’Juan Witt and Shemar Soles.