Steve Linton Bio
Steven Saderrick Linton is an American football defensive end known for his work along the line of scrimmage. He began his professional career with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL) and later joined the St. Louis Battlehawks. Linton played his college football at Syracuse, Texas Tech, and Baylor, building a reputation as a productive pass rusher.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed at 248 pounds, Linton has the size and frame expected of an edge rusher in professional football. He has continued to develop his game since entering the UFL, working to translate his college production into a steady professional role.
Early Life and Background
Steven Saderrick Linton was born on February 4, 2000, in Dublin, Georgia, United States. He grew up in the same small Georgia city where he would eventually attend high school and first make a name for himself in football. Dublin, located in central Georgia, is known for producing a steady stream of high school football talent, and Linton became one of its more accomplished recent players.
He attended Dublin High School, where he developed into a reliable defensive prospect. As a senior, Linton recorded 67 tackles, including 18 tackles for loss and 9 sacks, showing the kind of disruption off the edge that college recruiters were looking for. His senior production helped him earn a three-star rating coming out of high school.
Coming out of Dublin High School, Linton was recruited by several programs, including Missouri, Arizona State, and South Florida. He ultimately chose to commit to Syracuse, where he would begin his college career. His path from a small Georgia town to a major conference program reflected both his work ethic and his on-field production during his final high school season.
Path to American Football
Linton’s journey toward a professional career in American football began with his commitment to the Syracuse Orange. The decision to leave Georgia and head to the Northeast offered him a chance to test himself at the highest level of college football and to grow within a respected defensive program.
His time at Syracuse gave him his first taste of big-time college competition, where he was redshirted as a freshman before working his way into the defensive rotation. Linton continued to refine his technique as a pass rusher, and the steady improvement he showed in the Atlantic Coast Conference laid the foundation for his later moves.
After finishing his time at Syracuse, Linton entered the NCAA transfer portal and joined the Texas Tech Red Raiders for the 2023 season. He then transferred again to the Baylor Bears for his final college season in 2024. Across these stops, he proved he could produce as a defensive end against a variety of offensive schemes, building a résumé that would eventually lead him to the professional ranks.
Steve Linton Career
College Career at Syracuse (2019–2022)
Linton began his college career at Syracuse, where he was redshirted during his freshman year in 2019. He used that development season to adjust to the speed and physical demands of Division I football, and he began to carve out a role in the Orange defense as the seasons progressed.
In 2020, he appeared in limited action, racking up 15 tackles and a fumble recovery in one start. The 2021 season saw him play in seven games, posting six tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. His strongest Syracuse season came in 2022, when he finished with 22 tackles, six tackles for loss, three and a half sacks, and two forced fumbles. That production convinced him to seek a new opportunity, and he entered the transfer portal after the season.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (2023)
Linton transferred to Texas Tech and quickly made an impact in the Big 12 Conference. In week 7 of the 2023 season, he turned in one of his most impressive individual performances, notching three sacks and two forced fumbles in a win over Baylor, the program he would later join.
He closed out his 2023 campaign with 22 tackles, four and a half tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. His disruptive play on the edge gave the Red Raiders a reliable pass-rushing option, and his production reflected his comfort within a new defensive system. After the season, Linton once again entered the NCAA transfer portal in search of a final collegiate home.
Baylor Bears (2024)
Linton transferred to Baylor for his senior season in 2024 and immediately contributed. In week 4, he posted five tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble against Colorado, demonstrating the same kind of disruptive play he had shown throughout his career.
Across nine games and five starts in 2024, Linton totaled 25 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, and a fumble recovery. His final collegiate season gave him a strong statistical platform heading into the professional ranks. Following the year, he declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Birmingham Stallions Era (2025)
After going undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft, Linton signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League. The move gave him a clear path to professional football and a chance to continue developing within a structured spring league environment.
He joined a Birmingham roster that has been among the most successful franchises in spring football, providing him with experienced teammates and a defensive system suited to his strengths as an edge rusher.
St. Louis Battlehawks Era (2026–Present)
On January 13, 2026, Linton was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks in the 2026 UFL Draft. The selection marked a new chapter in his professional career and gave him the opportunity to play for a different UFL franchise.
He currently serves as a defensive end for the Battlehawks, wearing jersey number 44. The move gave him a fresh roster opportunity and a chance to keep building on his professional résumé.
Driving Style and Strengths
Linton’s game is built around his length and strength on the edge, allowing him to set the line of scrimmage and collapse pockets. He has shown an ability to chase quarterbacks from the outside while still holding up against the run. His experience across multiple college defenses has given him a versatile skill set, and his production in tackles for loss and forced fumbles underlines his disruptive potential.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Linton’s career came in 2023, when he posted three sacks and two forced fumbles in a single game for Texas Tech against Baylor. He also recorded a five-tackle, two-sack performance against Colorado during his 2024 season at Baylor, reinforcing his reputation as a pass-rushing threat. His selection in the 2026 UFL Draft represented the formal start of his professional career in its current chapter.
Steve Linton Career Wins
While Steve Linton’s résumé is built primarily on his defensive statistics rather than traditional win totals, his career has been marked by team victories and standout individual showings. His disruptive presence has been a factor in multiple wins for Syracuse, Texas Tech, Baylor, and his professional teams.
College Highlights
During his time at Syracuse, Linton was a part of a competitive Atlantic Coast Conference program and steadily increased his statistical output each season. His move to Texas Tech in 2023 produced one of his most memorable games, with three sacks and two forced fumbles in a conference win over Baylor.
At Baylor in 2024, he continued his productive play, finishing with three sacks, seven tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery across nine games. His college career closed with back-to-back seasons of strong pass-rushing production, including multi-sack performances in two consecutive years.
Professional Highlights
Linton’s professional career began with the Birmingham Stallions in 2025, where he joined a championship-caliber UFL organization. He has since moved to the St. Louis Battlehawks, where he continues his role as a defensive end.
Steve Linton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Linton grew up in Dublin, Georgia, and attended Dublin High School, where his football development began. His hometown and high school produced the platform that led to his college and professional opportunities.
Personal Life
Steven Saderrick Linton focuses much of his public profile on his football career. He has been listed as a resident of the communities in which his professional teams are based, including Birmingham and St. Louis.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Steven Saderrick Linton’s first year in professional football, as he signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL on May 19, 2025. Coming off a productive college career that included three collegiate seasons with multiple sacks, he entered the spring league with an opportunity to translate his pass-rushing skills to the professional level.
As a defensive end for the Stallions, Linton joined a roster that has consistently been among the UFL’s most competitive teams. His size, length, and college production gave him a defined role on the edge of the defensive front.
His single season in Birmingham set the stage for his next professional step. On January 13, 2026, Linton was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks in the 2026 UFL Draft, giving him a new opportunity to continue his growth as a professional pass rusher in 2026 and beyond.