Soli a mid-spring departure to transfer portal

Mataio Soli participates in an agility drill during Arkansas spring football practice on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at the practice field on the campus in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas defensive end Mataio Soli, a legacy Razorback and former starter, announced on Wednesday he was entering the NCAA transfer portal.

Soli, the son of Razorback great Junior Soli, broke the news on his Twitter account, writing “my recruitment is open…better days ahead.”

Soli, who had been running with the third unit this spring, has dealt with a series of injuries during his college career. Last week, he suffered what appeared to be a minor leg injury, and he practiced with a medical sleeve on his right leg Tuesday.

An 11-game starter with a broken bone in his hand as a true freshman in 2019 under position coach Steve Caldwell, Soli amassed a career-high 19 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.

However, playing time on defense was scarce the last couple of years for the fourth-year senior from Douglasville, Ga. The 6-4, 241-pounder made one start the last two seasons and amassed 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack in 21 games.

Soli’s biggest contribution last season came on special teams with the recovery and four-yard return of a punt blocked by Jake Yurachek in the second quarter of Arkansas’ 40-21 rout of No. 15 Texas.

Soli’s return to the Texas 14 yard line led to kicker Cam Little’s 24-yard field goal for a 13-0 Arkansas lead.

He would have two seasons of eligibility remaining, his true senior year and a bonus season due to the covid-19 allowance.