Tennessee had a big offseason, adding potential studs on defense, and the one most fans are hyped about is LEO Chaz Coleman. He could be the difference-maker that Tennessee needs on defense in 2026. As a true freshman at Penn State, he posted elite production in a limited role, including a 22.1% pass‑rush win rate, a number that sticks out mightily for a young player.
Tennessee’s pass rush was very good last fall, as they averaged 2. 9 sacks per game, which was No. 9 in the nation, but Tennessee lost a ton of production. Joshua Josephs, Dominic Bailey, Bryson Eason, Tyre West, Caleb Herring, and Jordan Ross are no longer Vols, so somebody needs to step up, and it likely will be Chaz Coleman.
The good news is that the sophomore edge rusher has already started turning heads, and he’s only been a Vol for a month. New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles didn’t hold back in giving him high praise.
Knowles said, "He's explosive. He's hard to block. Can twist, turn, beat guys one-on-one. He has great initial quickness off the ball. He can create havoc."
The praise didn't end there. Coleman's position coach, Andrew Jackson, said, "The first thing that caught our attention was his hustle and effort, the way he was running to the football." This might be the biggest compliment of them all. It's one thing to have the natural ability, but to be praised for your effort is a huge positive for Coleman.
Jim Knowles on new Vols edge rusher Chaz Coleman: He's explosive. He's hard to block. Can twist, turn, beat guys one-on-one. He has great initial quickness off the ball. He can create havoc.
— GoVols247 (@GoVols247) February 19, 2026
LEO coach Andrew Jackson on Vols edge rusher Chaz Coleman: The first thing that caught our attention was his hustle and effort, the way he was running to the football.
— GoVols247 (@GoVols247) February 19, 2026
Can Chaz Coleman transform Tennessee's pass rush in 2026?
Coleman is a bit of a wild card for next fall. He was one of the highest-ranked transfers regardless of position by multiple different sources, and he had some great underlying numbers as a freshman, but he also has very limited experience, and the SEC is the best conference in America.
I'm not suggesting that he will be bad by any means, but it might take a little while for him to fully ramp up his production. I wouldn't be shocked if there was a slight learning curve, and by the end of October, he's dominating. His combination of skill, explosiveness, and effort could, however, make him completely bypass this. Either way, with all the lost production, the Vols will need him to step up in 2026.