Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles lamented the loss of edge rusher Chaz Coleman and praised depth at linebacker to open preseason practice.
There could be a correlation as Knowles looks for sources of a steady pass rush.
Coleman was medically disqualified on June 26 and no longer part of the Vols football team.
“Real sorry not having Chaz. I hope the best for him as a young man,” Knowles said at UT media day on Aug. 4. “(Pass rush) is kind of how Chaz made his mark last year at Penn State. We just set up opportunities for him in the game to be creative and pass rush.
“So it’s a question mark and time will tell how that goes. But we need to have other tools in the toolbox to create the pass rush, if need be. And we’ll have that.”
Coleman,
a prized transfer, followed Knowles from Penn State to Tennessee in January. But he missed the second half of spring practice because of what coach Josh Heupel indicated were personal matters. He didn't initially report to summer workouts in late May.
UT announced his departure in mid-summer. By then, players already had adjusted to a roster without him.
How linebackers could be pass rushers for Jim Knowles
Coleman was the No. 1 ranked edge rusher in the portal. He was supposed to be a playmaking pass rusher.
Instead, his departure leaves UT thin at edge rusher. Tulane transfer Jordan Norman is the projected starter. Redshirt freshman Christian Gass could be in the mix. Sophomore Mariyon Dye may fit at strongside defensive end, but he could see time at edge rusher.
All possibilities are on the table as Knowles implements his scheme. One potential solution lies at linebacker, where as many as six players could be a factor.
“You always let personnel dictate (the scheme). There’s flexibility in our programming,” Knowles said. “… The linebacker room is deep, so two, three, four linebackers are part of the plan.
“Now we have to see who develops as our best 11, who’s the best 15, who’s the best 22. And we’re going to play the guys that are the best players.”
Arion Carter was a 2025 All-SEC performer, leading the conference with 7.6 tackles per game. He’ll be in the lineup after serving a two-game suspension issued by the NCAA because he returned to college after his agent had paid for a $427 flight to an NFL pre-draft training facility.
Edwin Spillman and Jeremiah Telander were among the SEC’s top tacklers last season, recording 81 and 80 tackles, respectively.
Penn State transfer Amare Campbell had 103 tackles last season. And he has experience in Knowles’ defense from their time together at Penn State. Former four-star recruits Jadon Perlotte and Jaedon Harmon also return after playing a lot as freshmen.
While linebackers could be used as primary pass rushers, Knowles admits that UT’s options likely won’t be known until the season starts.
"Time will tell with the pass rush,” Knowles said. “You’re never hitting the quarterback or trying to get close to the quarterback when you’re in spring or fall camp, so a lot of these things in pass rushing you don’t see until you get to the game.”
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How Jim Knowles may solve Tennessee pass rush problem after Chaz Coleman exit
