Penn State Nittany Lions transfer EDGE Chaz Coleman had an uneven spring after joining the Tennessee Vols earlier this offseason. The sophomore pass rusher missed much of spring practice while dealing with off-field issues.
Tennessee Vols sophomore EDGE Chaz Coleman had an uneven spring on Rocky Top.
Coleman, who transferred from Penn State to Tennessee earlier this offseason, reportedly spent some time away from the team this spring while dealing with some off-field issues.
Longtime Vols insider Tony Basilio said in early April that Coleman was having trouble being so far away from home.
"Knoxville is the furthest away from home he's ever been, and he's not handling it well," said Basilio . "I was told by a source close to the family that Coleman is a homebody who's excellent once he locks in on something but sometimes takes a while to get locked in."
Basilio added that he doesn't believe this is a " Boo Carter situation " and that Tennessee doesn't want to kick Coleman off the team.
VolQuest's Brent Hubbs noted a few days after Basilio's comments that Coleman is also dealing with some "health things" from his time at Penn State.
"He's got to go to the practice field," said Hubbs . "He's got to commit to it harder. He's dealing with whatever personal things he's dealing with. But at some point in time, Chaz Coleman has to make a commitment that he's going to put in the work, and he's going to grind seven days a week the way he needs to if he's going to be a factor for this football team this fall. He's not getting ready to get thrown off the team or anything like that.
" He's had some health things. He's had some things that have bothered him - even going back to the end of last season. Back in November, there were some things that he dealt with that kind of plagued him.But he's got to work through and push through. And I think that's the message that Chaz Coleman is getting."
CBS Sports' Chris Hummer reported Tuesday that Coleman is dealing with some vertigo issues after he "suffered a head injury at an unknown point during his time at Penn State that seems to have caused lingering vertigo symptoms."
Hummer's report also notes that the Penn State transfer, who is making around $2 million at Tennessee ($3.5 million was a number previously tossed around), is feeling the "pressure that has come with Coleman's rapid rise over the past year from a fringe four-star recruit to a top-10 transfer and overnight millionaire."
"The kid is not a bad kid," said a Tennessee source to CBS Sports. "He's just got personal issues right now."
Another source told CBS Sports that it is "a sad situation, honestly."
Based on Hummer's report, there's optimism that Coleman is making progress during this lengthy adjustment period.
"He's not in trouble, and some in the Tennessee program, including teammates, are optimistic that he will be part of the team in 2026 despite his absence during spring practice," wrote Hummer. "Coleman remains in Knoxville around the team, and he even recently went to church with Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner."
Coleman is a game-changing talent with early round NFL Draft potential. He's a player that will help the Vols win games if he's on the field this fall.
Things seem to be trending in a better direction with Coleman, but there's a long way to go until the season begins in September. We'll continue to keep an eye on the situation this summer as Vols fans hope for the best with the dynamic EDGE.
