Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel indicated that edge rusher Chaz Coleman is still dealing with personal matters, but he expects him to return to regular team activities.
The prized Penn State transfer missed most of spring practice, along with a series of workouts and team activities, due to what Heupel called “off the field” issues.
On April 28, Heupel briefly addressed Coleman's status during a Big Orange Caravan stop near Chattanooga.
"At the end of the day, (Coleman) is dealing with some things," Heupel said. "He has to work through some things. When he's able to do that, he'll be back with us."
Coleman remains on the UT roster, and coaches hope he’ll be available to play for the Vols in the 2026 season. He was a five-star transfer and the highest-rated edge rusher in the portal, according to 247Sports.
Heupel has not provided specific reasons for Coleman’s absence. CBS Sports, citing sources, reported that Coleman is struggling with pressure over being a newfound millionaire, vertigo symptoms from a head injury suffered at Penn State and homesickness. He is a sophomore from Warren, Ohio.
UT has not made Coleman available to media. New players typically do interviews during spring practice, but he was absent before his turn came.
Heupel said he’ll be patient with Coleman as he works through personal matters.
“Ultimately, Chaz is dealing with some things off the field. He’s got to handle that and go through that process," Heupel said on April 11 after UT’s Orange and White Spring Game.
"We are here to help and support him in all of those ways and will continue to do that. But that’s ultimately the beginning part of his journey right now, that there’s some things that he’s got to work through.”
Coleman enrolled at UT in January as a premier pickup from the portal and went through winter workouts. Neither UT nor third-party collectives released details of his NIL pay, but CBS Sports reported that it’s in the neighborhood of $2 million.
Knox News has not confirmed that amount but it's within range of other prized transfers. Regardless of Coleman's exact NIL pay, his position and potential likely fetched seven figures. Big spenders LSU and Ohio State, as well as South Carolina, also sought him before he chose Tennessee.
UT pays most of its student-athletes who earn revenue shares on a monthly basis via direct deposit. Revenue shares are direct school-to-player payments in addition to third-party NIL money.
It unknown whether Coleman's absence from team activities has impacted his NIL pay.
The university encourages athletes to receive NIL money in monthy payments so they can learn how to budget and invest their money. However, payment schedules are negotiable, especially for coveted players. Some players want a lump sum up front. If so, UT may push more money to the back end of the contract to balance the terms. Some players want to be paid quarterly. UT works with each athlete to meet their preferences.
Coleman's NIL situation is of interest for a couple of reasons. First, he reportedly has struggled with the pressure of being a highly-paid college player at 19 years old. Secondly, UT fans feel burned by the departure of quarterback Nico Iamaleava and defensive back Boo Carter before the 2025 season despite them getting lucrative NIL deals.
Iamaleava transferred to UCLA after a dispute with UT over his NIL pay. Heupel dismissed Carter after he missed numerous offseason workouts and team activities. There's no indication that Coleman has asked for more NIL money, and Heupel has expressed concern for his well-being.
UT appeared to have an advantage in recruiting Coleman from the portal. Heupel hired defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Anthony Poindexter, edge rushers coach AJ Jackson and multiple analysts from Penn State. Coleman followed those familiar staffers to Knoxville.
At Penn State, Knowles nicknamed Coleman the “Chazmanian Devil” because of the havoc he created as a speedy pass rusher. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder flashed elite talent as a freshman in the 2025 season, but he is still young and developing.
Coleman played nine games but was limited by injuries late in the season. He had eight tackles, three tackles-for-loss, one sack, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.