Knoxville EDGE rusher Steven Soles committed to Kentucky football Wednesday afternoon. The Powell High School standout chose the Wildcats over a top group which included Mississippi State, South Florida and Virginia Tech.
Home💙🔒 @UKCoachStoops @Mike_Stoops41 @CoachWoody7 @UKFootball pic.twitter.com/TYjC9GVQc9
— Steven Soles Jr (@6kSteven) August 2, 2023
While Soles is a Knoxville native, Tennessee did not recruit the three-star defender. The Vols never offered Soles despite interest and an ultimate commitment to a SEC East rival.
Soles ranks as a three-star recruit and the No. 830 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. The local prospect ranks as the 29th best player in the Volunteer State.
More From RTI: Where Tennessee Football’s Recruiting Class Ranks After Bennett Warren’s Commitment
The defensive end is Kentucky’s 15th commit in the 2024 cycle giving the Wildcats’ the nation’s No. 40 recruiting class according to the 247sports team rankings.
Tennessee’s 2024 recruiting class currently contains 19 commits including three defensive linemen including four-star Oklahoma native Kellen Lindstrom.
Rodney Garner, Mike Ekeler and the Vols are still after a number of top EDGE rushing prospects including Alabama five-star Jordan Ross.
Tennessee is 2-0 against Kentucky during Josh Heupel’s brief tenure including a blowout win over the Wildcats last season in Neyland Stadium. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has vastly improved the Wildcats program but is just 2-8 against the Vols in his 10-year tenure in Lexington.
