Tennessee's Chaz Coleman's future in Knoxville receives expected update from Pete Nakos

The Tennessee Volunteers football team was very excited when they landed Chaz Coleman in the transfer portal. Coleman was one of the top players available in the entire portal.

Tennessee was ecstatic when they brought in Coleman, but things have been far from ideal since his arrival. He has dealt with off-field issues that caused him to miss most of the spring. He has met with coaches, but it does not seem like a full return is likely.

“He’s still not been in there in the weight room or anything. He’s met with (strength coach) Derek Owings. Both sides are kind of going through the motions and dotting i’s and checking boxes and all of that stuff. And again, I just don’t think it’s going to be a marriage that lasts much longer. But technically, he’s still part of the program,” VolQuest’s Austin Price said.

The issue with Coleman is that the spring transfer window has passed. He cannot currently enter the portal, which leaves him effectively stuck in Knoxville for the time being.

“That has the Coleman situation feeling all-too-familiar as Coleman could become Nico 2.0. The biggest difference between now and then is there's no spring transfer window this year so Coleman actually has no way out, no matter how much he apparently regrets not going to his home state Ohio State,” All For Tennessee’s Dekota Gregory wrote.

The Coleman situation has taken several twists and turns, as he is back in Knoxville but not participating in team activities. On3’s Pete Nakos provided a much-anticipated update on Coleman’s future on Rocky Top.

“I will be extremely surprised if he is a member of the Tennessee football roster this fall,” Nakos said.

It is an unfortunate situation for the Vols, as this is now the second consecutive season where a major player in the program has left abruptly. Coleman, working with Jim Knowles and Rodney Garner, was expected to make a significant leap in his sophomore campaign.

Tennessee will have to adjust on the defensive side of the ball, but the distraction will eventually be resolved. There is still no clear indication of what is going on with Coleman beyond reported off-field issues.