Joshua Josephs, Caleb Herring, Jordan Ross — a once deep edge rusher room saw its top three names exit quickly after the season ended, leaving a big hole in Jim Knowles’ year-one defense at Tennessee. The development wasn’t all bad, giving Knowles a chance to evaluate things and bring in some guys that might fit what he wants a little better.
Enter Chaz Coleman, the former can’t-miss prospect coming off of a flashy year one at Penn State. Coleman has it all and seemed poised to become one of the best
edge threats in all of college football. That hasn’t been the case so far in Knoxville.
Coleman was notably absent for several spring practices over the last month and did not suit up for Tennessee’s orange and white game on Saturday. That’s a pretty notable development with Coleman easily coming to town as Tennessee’s biggest — and most expensive — pull out of the transfer portal.
“Ultimately Chaz is dealing with some things off the field,” Josh Heupel said after the spring game. “He’s got to handle that and go through that process. We’re here to help and support him in all those ways, and we’ll continue to do that. That’s ultimately the beginning part of his journey right now, that (there’s) some things he’s got to work through.”
Coleman has reportedly been dealing with vertigo issues, along with what some are calling maturity issues off the field. Obviously we don’t have the specifics on that last part of the equation.
So where does that leave Tennessee at edge rusher? Not in great spot, honestly. The Volunteers are going to need some youth to grow up quickly this summer with nobody knowing what comes next on the Coleman front.
Taking Coleman out of the equation, Tennessee’s edge group will be led by Tulane transfer Jordan Norman. The 6-4, 270 pound Norman was brought in as a rotational piece after Tennessee lost so much at the position early in the offseason. Now it’s possible he will be the top pass rushing option on the team. Norman put up six sacks last season and has put on 20 pounds since arriving in Knoxville.
From there it’s anyone’s guess. Tennessee has a number of young pass rushers without any experience, and they’re going to need a couple to emerge ahead of the fall. Someone like Christian Gass, who has also put on 20 pounds this offseason, who is entering his second year in the program. Highly recruited true freshmen like Hezekiah Harris, Zach Groves and Kedric Golston — they’re all going to factor in here. Bigger bodies like Tyree Weathersby and Mariyon Dye will as well. Tennessee will also get some help from a strong interior, perhaps led by the disruptive Xavier Gilliam.
Tennessee faces plenty of questions at the quarterback position coming out of the spring, but these questions at edge rusher — and surrounding Coleman — might be just as important.
