Jim Knowles has done it again! Tennessee just landed another Penn State defender in the portal, and this one should have Big Orange Nation fired up. Coleman is the top-ranked edge rusher according to Saturday Blitz, and he arrives in Knoxville with three years of eligibility.
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This is the 3rd defender to commit to the Vols from Penn State. Happy Valley is slowly becoming a pipeline to Knoxville. Everyone in Tennessee knew that Knowles was a great coordinator, but little did we realize he was cerebral on the recruiting trail.
BREAKING: Penn State transfer EDGE Chaz Coleman has committed to Tennessee, @Hayesfawcett3 reports🍊
— On3 (@On3sports) January 10, 2026
Coleman is the No. 3 overall prospect in the transfer portal.https://t.co/nuuLvZwwEk pic.twitter.com/VL9Xzzsc3s
Tennessee lands 5-star EDGE Chaz Coleman
This is Tennessee’s crown jewel of the Transfer Portal so far, and the only way to top it would be securing Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt. Jim Knowles made it a top priority to get Coleman on campus right away and let him know that he belongs in Knoxville.
It doesn’t hurt that Coleman will be learning from Rodney Garner, one of the top defensive line coaches in the country. Add in his familiarity with the scheme and the chance to play early in Knoxville, and it’s easy to see why this was such a big selling point.
Chaz Coleman is an absolute monster on the edge. The best thing about him is how far along he is for his age. Coleman had a stellar freshman season at Penn State. He had an insane 22.1% win percentage rushing the passer and had a 90.3 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus. While many freshman linemen don't contribute, Coleman was making plays left and right.
I feel much better about this defense than I did on January 1st. This addition is another clear sign that Tennessee is serious about improving the defense next fall. The other two Penn State players Tennessee has, Xavier Gilliam and Amare Campbell, will provide some much-needed ability, and now adding Coleman to the fold feels like Tennessee has made significant strides.
Tennessee has quietly built some momentum in the Transfer Portal, and now the Vols have a chance to turn these early wins into a streak that really gets fans excited.