Soloveitchik was reputed to have one of the great minds of his time. In 1854, he was considered a candidate for rosh yeshiva of Volozhin yeshiva, over Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin.
Soloveitchik was widely recognized as possessing exceptional intellectual ability.  In 1854, he was among those who were being considered for the role of head rabbi at Volozhin yeshiva, facing off against Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin.