The Ohio State Buckeyes have been active in the transfer portal, landing several solid additions as they look to offset attrition following a disappointing end to the season. Even so, Ohio State just missed out on a major target. One of the top players in the portal, edge rusher Chaz Coleman, and a priority target for the Buckeyes, has announced he is transferring to Tennessee.
Coleman was ranked as the No. 1 edge rusher and a consensus top-five overall player in the transfer portal. When he first revealed he was leaving Penn State, many fans and analysts believed the Warren, Ohio native would end up in Columbus. Instead, the rising sophomore is following his former defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, to Knoxville, where both will be Volunteers this fall.
There is no way around it, Coleman choosing Tennessee hurts for Ohio State, even if the program will never admit it publicly. The Buckeyes appeared to be in the driver’s seat when Coleman entered the portal, he visited campus, and yet they could not close the deal. Coleman would have been an ideal addition to the defense, especially with Ohio State set to lose both Arvell Reese and Caden Curry off the edge to the NFL this offseason. The opportunity was there to add an ultra-talented underclassman edge rusher who is an Ohio native, and Ohio State came up short. While the financial details of Tennessee’s offer are unknown, this miss stings for the Buckeyes and could have real implications for the defense heading into 2026.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football misses out on top edge rusher Chaz Coleman
Reporting by Griffin Dreifaldt, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
