Tennessee football has wasted no time this offseason, with the transfer portal dominating the conversation over the last 24 hours. While the Vols have seen a notable amount of talent depart, they’re expected to be just as active in working to replace it.
Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar undergoes significant surgery that impacted his 2025 season
When it comes to Tennessee’s biggest needs in the transfer portal, adding more top-end defensive talent sits at the top of the list. Josh Heupel moved on from Tim Banks and brought in former Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to run the defense, giving the Vols one of the most notable defensive minds in the game to turn around the defense.
Jim Knowles is already getting to work, as he is very active when it comes to recruiting a former Penn State edge rusher. Chaz Coleman has been linked to Tennessee by On3's Steve Wiltfong and Pete Nakos, but it won't come easy. Ohio State looks to be the team to beat right now for the talented edge.
NEW: Two SEC teams and Ohio State are the schools picking up steam for Penn State star transfer Chaz Coleman, via @SWiltfong_ and @PeteNakos📈
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) January 2, 2026
View: https://t.co/BwNRgepGne https://t.co/9klbDoBDZD pic.twitter.com/wRX0nFyrly
Tennessee has serious interest from No. 1 EDGE Chaz Coleman
Chaz Coleman is rated the number one edge by Saturday Blitz. Nicolas Rome even had Tennessee listed as a potential destination for Coleman, noting that his connection to Knowles is a significant one. Tennessee needs edge help especially after losing Joshua Josephs to the NFL Draft.
Caleb Herring, Jordan Ross, and Dominic Bailey are all solid pieces, but Tennessee still needs more high-end production when it comes to rushing the passer. Landing Coleman would go a long way toward filling that void. Even if he gets beaten out, the competition in the room would elevate all four guys. Iron sharpens iron.
Coleman in 2025 had nine tackles, three TFLs, and a sack as a true freshman in nine games. This might not seem like eye-popping numbers, but most freshman linemen don't even play, let alone put up a solid stat line. There is a reason he is rated as the number one edge; he has all the upside in the world.
Tennessee still has a long way to go in this recruitment, but it's a great early sign that Coleman has mutual interest in the Vols.