2024 prospect Steven Soles stood out next to Walter Nolen. Now he's Powell's go-to lineman

Emily Adams
Knoxville News Sentinel

When Walter Nolen transferred to Powell ahead of the 2021 TSSAA football season, then-sophomore Steven Soles wasn't intimidated. He was determined to hold his own with the No. 2 prospect in the nation for the class of 2022.

Nolen ended the season with 17 sacks for losses of 85 yards. Soles matched him at 17 for losses of 159 yards. The two set the school record for sacks in a season, and Soles enters his junior season already having broken Powell's career sack record.

"It was a lot of competition between us like him pushing me to that level," Soles said. "He taught me a couple of moves, but it was really just us being competitive, and by the end of the season we had that respect. It was like, 'I'm big dog and you’re little dog and I want you to get there.' "

NOLEN TRANSFERS:Warren Nolen, brother of Texas A&M football's Walter Nolen, leaves Powell for 2022 season

FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW:Knoxville area Class 5A and 6A high school football preview, predictions for 2022

TOP 2024 PROSPECT:Why Tennessee football target Brandon Heyward expects a breakout season with Oak Ridge

Soles, a 6-foot-3, 215 pound defensive lineman, received his first Power 5 offer from Virginia Tech in April, and his recruiting stock rose from there. He said he expected some of the attention, but the reality really hit him when he received four offers in three days: Memphis and Miami (Ohio) on May 2, Kansas on May 3 and UConn on May 5.

"I had seen it coming. I was ready for (offers), but it was still crazy," Soles said. "You talk about it for so long but ... that day was when I was like, 'Dang it's really happening.' "

The junior has earned the nickname "Sack 'em Soles," which Soles said began as a joke with his father Steven Soles Sr. Steven Sr. follows Soles on social media and began to reply #sackemsoles to his posts. Soles said he eventually embraced it as his brand.

Powell defender Steven Soles (6) argues a call during the Farragut and Powell scrimmage at Powell High School on Friday, Aug. 6, 2022.

Soles is naturally tall and broad-shouldered, but the trait that makes him stand out to colleges is his explosiveness. Powell coach Matt Lowe said Soles is just as quick off the line of scrimmage as his wide receivers.

"His burst off the line. Every college guy that comes through here says that's what separates him from other guys in this area," Lowe said. "Guys that big just aren't that fast and athletic off the line of scrimmage. He's continued to try to add mass and get that lower body stronger, so as he accelerates through his hips, now he's got that punch to go with it."

Soles' big offers were no surprise to Lowe, who began promoting him to college recruiters last season alongside a talented 2023 class that includes Cincinnati commitment Ayden Greene, four-star receiver Adarius Redmond and Tennessee Tech commitment Jordyn Potts.

Powell defender Steven Soles (6) fights through a blocker during the Farragut and Powell scrimmage at Powell High School on Friday, Aug. 6, 2022.

"When you put on the film of Steven, his film from last season was as good of a sophomore highlight as I've ever seen," Lowe said. "Our staff does a great job of promoting these kids, so if you're ready to be promoted, we're going to make sure the right schools know about you."

Powell returns just two defensive linemen from last season's Class 5A state championship team: Soles and senior Brady Brewster. Though Soles is just a junior, Lowe said he expects him to take on a major leadership role in the defense this year.

"They've got to supply the energy and take ownership of that defensive line," Lowe said. "We don't have a lot of doubt that Steven is going to play at a high level — he's too talented, too energetic. We're talking to him about how you've got to bring the other guys with you. You have to calm them through those early season games and get the guys on board."

Contact Emily Adams at eaadams@gannett.com or on Twitter @eaadams6.