It feels like there is never a dull day in Knoxville. This offseason, there were rumors about five-star edge transfer Chaz Coleman being homesick and missing his family while away in Knoxville. He did not participate in spring practice, but recently things seem to be trending in a positive direction, and he is expected to suit up next fall.
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Well, we have an update, and it's not too good. On3's Pete Nakos has reported that Chaz Coleman has yet to show up for Tennessee's summer workouts that began after Memorial Day. Head coach Josh Heupel said, “Chaz has been dealing with some things, and we’re here to support him... We’ll continue to go through that process.”
Tennessee EDGE Chaz Coleman has yet to report to Knoxville for summer workouts, sources tell @Clowfb and me for @On3. Voluntary workouts began earlier this week.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) May 27, 2026
Josh Heupel: “Chaz has been dealing with some things, and we’re here to support him. We’ll continue to go through… pic.twitter.com/gTTbmkMRYE
EDGE Chaz Coleman has yet to report to Knoxville
Oh boy. This is difficult on so many levels. On a personal level, you have to feel for Chaz Coleman and what he is going through. Mental health matters, and being homesick must be a really tough situation for a college sophomore. On the other hand, Tennessee has invested a lot of time and resources into Coleman, and there is now uncertainty about how the situation impacts both him and the team moving forward.
There’s no question that Coleman is supposed to be a very good player and would help Tennessee a lot next year, coming off the edge. He posted an elite pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus, and his win rate was extremely high. He flashed a lot of potential last season at Penn State, and he was expected to take a big step in year two of the Jim Knowles system. However, he did only play 144 snaps last season, which is still more than most true freshman edge rushers. Yes, it would hurt, but it's not the end of the world if he doesn't play. It would be a big setback, no doubt, but Tennessee can overcome this.
Not to mention, Chaz Coleman has reportedly received around $3.5 million to be a Vol, which is an enormous amount of money. If that NIL investment ends up going to waste, it could impact booster confidence and future spending down the road. In this era of college football, having resources is the biggest thing, and any cutback in funding would be killer.
Obviously, if Coleman does come to Tennessee, he will be welcomed with open arms, but he also needs to be in game shape and earn his spot. Sure, the workouts are "voluntary," but they have to be real. We all know they are required, and it's just a way for the Vols and every other team to not get in trouble by the NCAA. It’s a tough situation, and I’m sure he would love to be playing football, but being away from home can be very difficult.
Hopefully, Heupel, Knowles, and Coleman can resolve everything soon, allowing Tennessee to move forward with Coleman in a position to thrive.
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