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Penn State defensive end Chaz Coleman is leaving the football program to enter the transfer portal following a coaching change. He will not take a pay cut to play for his hometown school.
Ohio State is in pursuit of his commitment. He demands to be paid fairly despite those local ties.
Coleman made his transfer intentions clear in mid-December after finishing up his 2025 college football season. He will leave the Nittany Lions after seeing head coach James Franklin fired.
The Buckeyes have been a trendy potential landing spot given his Ohio upbringing. Ohio State will have a chance to land his signature if the money is right.
Who is Chaz Coleman?
The defensive end was a highly rated prospect in the 2025 recruiting class. A four-star talent, he was ranked as a Top 10 player in the state of Ohio, regardless of position.
His initial recruitment ultimately came down to a pair of Big Ten foes. He committed to Penn State in November of 2024 and stuck with that pledge despite a late push from Ohio State.
Coleman made an impact as a freshman, appearing in nine games while recording eight tackles and a sack in a reserve role. He also forced a fumble and recovered two more to make his presence along the defensive front felt.
He was expected to become a mainstay along the front four in Happy Valley. Circumstances have since changed. He’s now searching for a new home, with the runner-up in his first recruitment now being a frontrunner.
Can Ohio State close the deal?
Chaz Coleman has been linked to the Buckeyes since his name went on the transfer market. Some believed Ohio State’s recruitment began midseason.
Penn State travelled to Columbus to face their conference rival in November. That meeting came about three weeks after Franklin was relieved of his duties.
A suspicious conversation with a gameday worker caught the attention of viewers after the game. While tampering rumors were ultimately debunked, his ties to the area are undeniable.
Coleman played his high school football at Harding, about an hour outside of the Columbus campus. His uncle played college football at nearby Youngstown State. He is familiar with many around the Ohio State program.
With that in mind, it’s reported that the Buckeyes offered the pass rusher a bit of a hometown discount, believing his desire to suit up for the team would be enough to get his commitment. That may not be the case.
According to Wiltfong and others Ohio State will be able to close the door on Chaz Coleman Tuesday “if they got their money right”.
Implying he wants to be a Buckeye but isn’t willing to take the discount Ohio State originally asked him to take.
— Carson (@cmacrae13) January 5, 2026
The Buckeyes are not the only players in Coleman’s recruitment. He is also considering Tennessee and LSU.
Those programs may be willing to offer the price the star transfer is seeking. If Ohio State doesn’t do the same, they risk missing out on securing the local talent’s signature.