Lane Kiffin’s top priority after arriving at LSU was to lock in a strong 2026 recruiting class. With the transfer portal officially opening on Jan. 2 and remaining open through Jan. 16, Kiffin has shifted his attention to reshaping the Tigers’ roster in hopes of setting up a successful first season in Baton Rouge.
Lane Kiffin’s LSU Takes Early Lead for Elite Penn State Freshman in Transfer Portal
Penn State defensive end Chaz Coleman decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal ahead of the 2026 season. Shortly after news of his move became public, he surged to the No. 1 overall spot in the portal rankings, per the latest 247Sports Composite.
National recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong provided early insight into Coleman’s possible landing spots, with Kiffin’s LSU emerging as an early frontrunner.
“The Buckeyes were the first programs that Pete Nakos mentioned, and they’re in strong talks with the Chaz Coleman camp early in this transfer portal cycle,” Wiltfong said. “But [it] sounds like it’s LSU and Tennessee that are the programs emerging as the price tag continues to go up in the initial discussions for his signature and opportunity.”
Coleman’s decision comes after a rocky 2025 season for Penn State, as the No. 40 team in the PFSN CFB Defense Impact Metric opened the year ranked No. 2 in the AP preseason poll but struggled mightily, finishing 3-6 in Big Ten play. The season saw the firing of head coach James Franklin, but Penn State closed the year on a positive note with a 22–10 win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday to end at 7-6.
As a true freshman, Coleman earned early playing time and posted the top Pro Football Focus grade (81.1) among freshman pass rushers through the first half of the season. His momentum was slowed by an injury that sidelined him for much of November.
Coleman offers an elite blend of physical tools and long-term upside. In Penn State’s 34-0 win over Florida International, he proved his caliber with four solo tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble that he recovered, and two pass breakups.
Despite a potentially hefty NIL valuation, Coleman’s asking price is unlikely to deter Kiffin, who is expected to have huge financial resources and scholarship flexibility for LSU’s 2026 roster.
“[LSU AD Verge Ausberry] and his team had a really, really good plan,” Kiffin said on Dec. 1. “Even talking to some donors that are part of that plan here to see exactly how does that works? There’s a great plan here.
“There’s a great plan here of how we can come together with what we bring and with what players around the country want to play for us and our systems, and then have that support to do that, so that they want to play for us and they get taken care of financially. Obviously, nowadays, it’s the world of college football, and it’s important, and it’s critical to them. It’s important to them. This was the best setup.”
Coleman appeared in nine games for Penn State, totaling eight tackles, one sack, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and one pass deflection.
