Tennessee defensive lineman Chaz Coleman is currently in the midst of a strange holdout with the Volunteer program, having still not reported to campus for team activities and his future with the program currently being considered “unclear,” per Pete Nakos of On3. Coleman was one of the most highly-touted transfers of this past cycle, with the former Penn State edge rusher ranking as the no. 9 player regardless of position per On3.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) May 29, 2026
This is a situation that could end up having significant effects on Texas A&M football when all is said and done. Not in the sense that Coleman could end up deciding that he’d rather be in the Maroon and White— at this point, it doesn’t seem like Coleman could play anywhere besides Tennessee for the upcoming season, barring some sort of court case or new legislation happening.
No, this could have cascading effects for the Aggies in the sense that Coleman is a cornerstone piece for the Tennessee defense— and Texas A&M’s game against Tennessee is in a crucial spot on the schedule. If Coleman ends up departing the Volunteer program or failing to play for them this season, it could end up being a massive strategic advantage for Texas A&M this November.
Texas A&M could benefit hugely from Chaz Coleman holdout with Tennessee Volunteers
Texas A&M is facing a difficult schedule this fall, as is every single SEC team. The new 9-game conference slate is going to take things to the next level in the SEC, and the Aggies, as part of that new scheduling philosophy, are set to face the Tennessee Volunteers at Kyle Field on November 14.
Apart from the simple old adage of “they remember November,” this is a big game for the Aggies for several reasons. Some are clear on their face: it will be the first home game for Texas A&M in a month by that point, for one thing. The Aggies play The Citadel on October 17 before a two-game road trip takes them to Alabama on October 24 and South Carolina on November 7, with a bye week in between…