Penn State’s Chaz Coleman Emerging as Nittany Lions’ Next Defensive Star
Penn State Football has had a long lineage of success along the defensive line.
From guys like Courtney Brown, and Tamba Hali, to Carl Nassib and Abdul Carter, the Nittany Lions have seemingly always had a dominant Edge Rusher.
On the current 2025 squad, senior, Dani Dennis-Sutton is the Edge Rusher who seems set to be a star. A star in his final year of college, who has the potential to become a star at the next level, too.
But, with Dennis-Sutton moving on, who will step up after he leaves?
It appears that Penn State Football has found the answer to that question. Chaz Coleman.
Chaz Coleman Shines in Early Season Run
Even before the regular season kicked off, Coleman impressed head coach James Franklin and the Penn State coaching staff.
“I went around and asked all the freshmen, which I do every year, if they see themselves as red, yellows or greens, in terms of redshirting or playing right away,” James Franklin told reporters before the season started. “And he [Chaz Coleman] said he was a yellow, when everybody in the room is kind of looking at him like, ‘Dude, you ain’t a yellow.‘ But that’s just the type of guy he is. He’s been raised well, and he’s got really good genetics, so he’s an exciting one.”
Three games into his freshman campaign, Chaz Coleman has certainly been exciting.
In game one against Nevada, Coleman was the first backup Edge Rusher to enter the game. While he didn’t tally anything in the box score, Coleman played 22 snaps and looked good doing it. The freshman phenom was constantly near the Quarterback.
In game two of his collegiate career, Coleman really put his name out there. In the 23 snaps he played, Coleman notched 4 tackles, a sack, 5 Quarterback pressures, a forced fumble, and a very impressive fumble recovery. Coleman put the country on alert, earning himself a spot on the PFF Big Ten Team of The Week in week two.
Coleman continued to shine in week three against Villanova. He logged one tackle and continued to flash.
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Penn State’s Meteoric Freshman Rise
Chaz Coleman’s rise to prominence gets even more impressive.
Coleman was a summer enrollee.
While Freshmen like Matthew Outten, Lavar Arrington Jr., Lyrick Samuel, and several others arrived in Happy Valley in January, Coleman didn’t get on campus until early summer.
On top of that, Coleman flew under the recruiting rankings’ radar.
The Warren G. Harding high school product was unrated by 247 sports until the beginning of his senior year. As his senior tape continued to impress the prep Quarterback and Defensive End continued to grow as a prospect. Additionally, Ohio State jumped in and pushed for Coleman’s talents just two weeks prior to signing day. But, in the end, James Franklin and company were able to keep Coleman.
It’s just so rare to see a freshman make this kind of impact so quickly. It appears that Penn State Football has it’s Edge Rusher of the future, a future that includes the 2025 season.
MORE Penn State Football News from NittanyCentral:
Penn State Throttles Villanova 52-6, Defense Headlines Again | Game Balls, MVP
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Purdy was born and raised in central Ohio and served for four years writing for his high school's newsletter. Currently studying Biblical Studies at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania, Ian has been a lifelong Nittany Lion fan.
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