Tennessee Removes Chaz Coleman from Roster but Keeps Him on Scholarship

Tennessee has removed Chaz Coleman, the Penn State transfer edge rusher, from its football roster. CBS Sports confirmed the removal on Friday, June 26, 2026, after Coleman was medically disqualified from the program. Coleman arrived in Knoxville during the winter 2026 transfer portal window as one of the Vols' highest-profile additions.

Tennessee paid him approximately $2 million in NIL compensation, sources told CBS Sports. He participated in winter workouts and a few spring practices but missed the majority of spring drills and did not appear in the spring game. Coach Josh Heupel addressed Coleman's status after the spring game.

"Chaz is dealing with some things off the field, and he's got to handle that and go through that process," Heupel said. " Coleman, a native of Warren, Ohio, ranked No. 7 overall in the 2026 recruiting cycle according to 247Sports.

He recorded one sack and posted a 90.3 PFF pass-rush grade in the 2025 season at Penn State. He entered the portal with three years of eligibility remaining and was one of four former Penn State defensive players to join Tennessee this offseason. Tennessee kept Coleman on scholarship following the medical disqualification, according to CBS Sports sources.

The NCAA transfer portal is closed until January 2027, limiting his immediate options to play elsewhere. Coleman was absent from summer workouts the week before June 26 before resurfacing in Knoxville that day. CBS Sports' Brad Crawford had projected Tennessee to finish 8-4 before the roster change.

The team's win total was set at 7.5 earlier in the offseason.