Tennessee Volunteers fans who celebrated the arrival of five-star edge-rusher Chaz Coleman from Penn State say the excitement has turned to shock after a report that the player has been dismissed from the program following UT voluntary workouts.
When Tennessee landed five-star edge-rusher Chaz Coleman from Penn State through the transfer portal, Volunteers fans treated it like a turning point. For a moment, the expectations felt simple: Coleman would get on the field, and the defense would get a jolt at the edge.
Then the reality hit. Coleman reportedly no-showed UT’s voluntary workouts, and the pause that followed stretched into silence. More recently, he deleted his Instagram account. With no clear details about what had changed. Tennessee supporters were left to process the weekend news that Coleman had reportedly been dismissed from the team.
Doug Matthews. an ex-Vols assistant coach. described the moment the way many fans likely felt it—like a promise that never fully made it off campus. Speaking on 104.5 The Zone. Matthews said Coleman came in from the transfer portal from Penn State as “a talented player. but young and inexperienced.” Matthews added that Coleman was viewed as someone who could be counted on “probably to be a starter at edge-rusher.”.
Matthews then pointed to what he sees as the decisive break in the relationship. “He’s no longer with the program,” Matthews said. “I think it’s probably pretty mutual. but he was dismissed this past week after I think about as good an effort as Coach (Josh) Heupel and this staff could have [made] to keep him there. It didn’t work out. Those things happen.”.
The Coleman report has not been confirmed by any other news outlets. Still, Matthews is widely considered well-connected with Tennessee football.
If Coleman is truly done with UT, the timing would land uncomfortably for the school. This is the second straight offseason in which Tennessee has dealt with problems tied to a high-profile player. Last offseason, Tennessee lost former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava after an NIL dispute. Iamaleava eventually transferred to UCLA, and Tennessee brought in ex-UCLA signal-caller Joey Aguilar through the transfer portal to replace him.
Matthews’ comments also sharpen the stakes around the latest case. even though Coleman’s personal situation hasn’t been publicly detailed. No one has said what led to the dismissal, and the reasons remain unclear. If the issue involved NIL money owed to Coleman. it could affect how Tennessee negotiates with future recruits and transfers—because even speculation can rattle the trust that top players expect when they choose a program.
For now. the only firm picture Tennessee fans can point to is what they felt firsthand: a celebrated transfer arrival. a sudden no-show at voluntary workouts. and then the weekend report that Chaz Coleman has been dismissed from the program—just as another offseason drama with Nico Iamaleava is still fresh in memory.
Tennessee Volunteers Chaz Coleman Penn State SEC program Josh Heupel Doug Matthews transfer portal voluntary workouts NIL dispute Nico Iamaleava Joey Aguilar