‘If he’s not out there, that’s not a good sign’ – Vols insider shares latest on Chaz Coleman’s status with important date coming up
All eyes have been on Tennessee Vols EDGE transfer addition Chaz Coleman this spring has he’s dealt with some personal issues away from the field. Coleman is expected to be a key player for the Vols this fall.
One of the biggest stories of the offseason for the Tennessee Vols has been the status of sophomore EDGE Chaz Coleman.
Coleman, who transferred to Tennessee after one season at Penn State, has been dealing with some personal issues this spring that’s kept him away from the practice field at times.
CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer reported in April 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 Coleman, who is believed to be earning around $2 million at Tennessee, 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.”
Vols head coach Josh Heupel addressed Coleman’s status during a Big Orange Caravan stop last month.
“At the end of the day, he’s dealing with some things and has to work through those things,” said Heupel. “When he’s able to do that, then he will be back with us.”
The Chaz Coleman file
Sophomore – 6’4″ – 250 pounds – EDGE – Warren, OH
- 8 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack as a true freshman
- Former 4-star recruit
- No. 27 EDGE in the 2025 recruiting class and No. 10 player in the state of Ohio (per 247Sports)
- Transferred to Tennessee to be reunited with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles
- Nicknamed by Knowles as the “Chazmanian Devil”
Vols insider shares the latest on Chaz Coleman’s status
VolQuest’s Austin Price joined WNML’s Josh and Swain on Wednesday and shared the latest update on Coleman as Tennessee’s players prepare to return to campus for summer workouts beginning May 25.
“He’s continuing to be around,” said Price. “He’s continued to have conversations with people on campus. But when the team reconvenes for that first workout on the 25th, he needs to be out there. And if he’s not out there, that’s not a good sign. So, a lot of eyeballs will be on him that day to see if he’s back out there and working out with the team.
“And again, he’s a guy that can help Tennessee this fall. He’s obviously got a lot of upside, but he needs to be in the weight room. [He needs to be] around the team and building camaraderie with his teammates. I think in the spring, he didn’t do himself any favors with the fact that he missed basically the last three or four weeks with what he’s got going on. So I think everybody can be somewhat compassionate to that, but he’s got to be back and ready to go on May 25. He’s got to be ready to hit the ground running.”
Coleman can be a big difference maker for the Vols in 2026 if he gets his off-the-field stuff squared away. The summer months will be extremely important for the Ohio native as he continues to adjust to life on Rocky Top.