Lane Kiffin and LSU hold one of the biggest ‘what ifs' for Tennessee after Vols and Chaz Coleman part ways

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The Vols could see one of their former players at a sudden position of need star for their former head coach in 2026.

The Tennessee Vols put a lot of stock in Penn State transfer Chaz Coleman in the last transfer portal window. Clearly, the ex-Nittany Lion has a very high ceiling with a large untapped potential. I think most people would agree on that. But with only 150 career defensive snaps with 15 QB pressures and one sack, Tennessee was prioritizing a player they hoped to develop rather than a proven producer.

Now, Coleman is gone, with Tennessee parting ways with him on Friday after determining that he was “medically disqualified.” Coleman missed most of spring football and failed to report by the deadline for summer workouts, churning an offseason drama that went on for months.

Regardless, of what happened or why he didn’t work out, Tennessee now has a major hole at edge rusher going into fall camp in a little over a month. And they will have to look in house to fix that problem.

Because their most promising edge rusher for 2026 after last season, Jordan Ross, left Knoxville for LSU in the portal. And how he does in Baton Rouge will leave a lot of people in East Tennessee wondering what could have been in Tennessee this year.

Tennessee losing Chaz Coleman pushes Jordan Ross transfer to LSU into the spotlight for 2026

Ross spoke to the Baton Rouge media after transferring, and he said he needed a “new program” after two years in Knoxville. Sometimes, that’s the case with players. He also mentioned needing a new start after his defensive coordinator Tim Banks and outside linebackers coach Levorn Harbin were dismissed.

But could Ross have been prioritized and retained as the team’s top edge rusher for 2026? That’s a question only Ross can answer, but we know that NIL is a factor in a lot of player’s recruitments, and Tennessee certainly gave Coleman a strong offer. It’s been reported in the neighborhood of $2 million. It’s also pretty clear that Knowles was a big fan of Coleman and had a significant role in bringing him to Knoxville.

If Ross goes to LSU, puts up 8-10+ sacks, and helps lead LSU to the College Football Playoff, it’s going to leave a lot of people wondering just how much of an impact he could have made in Knowles’ defense this year. And unless someone on Tennessee’s current roster steps in and makes the LEO position their own in fall camp, there’s a distinct possibility that could end up happening.

This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Lane Kiffin and LSU hold one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ for Tennessee after Vols and Chaz Coleman part ways

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