Chaz Coleman is going to continue his college football career at Tennessee. The former Penn State defensive end will presumably get paid a large sum by the Volunteers after he rejected a hometown discount to play in Ohio.
Specific details of his financial compensation have not yet been made public.
There is more money in college football now than ever. The question is whether or not this was an overpay.
Who is Chaz Coleman?
There may not be a better player in the transfer portal this cycle than Coleman. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound edge rusher rated as a four-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2025. He initially committed to Penn State over Kentucky and Florida State, among others.
Although his freshman season did not produce the most ridiculous numbers you have ever seen, Chaz Coleman made eight tackles with a sack in nine games for the Nittany Lions. He also forced a fumble.
As someone who also played quarterback in high school (yes, you read that correctly), Penn State was excited about his role moving forward. And then it fired James Franklin.
Coleman decided to enter the transfer portal as the top-ranked player at his position. It seemed like a lock that he would end up at LSU. He visited Baton Rouge last week. Lane Kiffin and company wanted him badly.
The Tigers missed. As did the Gamecocks of South Carolina.
Tennessee paid a lot NIL money.
Defensive ends are considered a premium position in the current era of college football. It is hard to find a certified stud on the edge so they cost a lot of money. We’re talking anywhere from $500,000 to $1.5 million. It depends on the player, eligibility remaining, etc.
An exact number has not been released for Chaz Coleman specifically.
However, the Ohio-native was unwilling to accept less money to play at Ohio State. The Buckeyes were not willing to pay him what he wanted.
Coleman is likely asking closer to that seven-figure number even though he does not have the numbers to back up his request. Quite a few schools backed out of his recruitment for that reason. The current product is not worth the price tag. That money can be spent elsewhere.
LSU, South Carolina and Tennessee stuck around. The Vols ultimately beat out the Tigers to get him in the boat.
Did that require a larger payment? I don’t know. Probably. Maybe Coleman took equal or slightly less money to play for Josh Heupel and his staff instead of Lane Kiffin and his staff. I doubt it.
No matter how it went down, Tennessee paid a lot of money for a guy who is rated as the No. 3 overall player in the transfer portal even though he has yet to produce legitimate numbers— in large part because he missed a few games due to injury. Only time will tell whether the gamble pays off.