Kentucky football just got a second shot at a blue-chip pass rusher

Kentucky just watched a very familiar name hit the portal and this time, the timing couldn't be better.

Chaz Coleman, the edge rusher the Wildcats pushed hard for out of high school before he chose James Franklin and Penn State, is officially back on the market. For a new staff trying to rebuild the front seven, this is the kind of second chance you simply do not ignore.

Coleman wasn’t just a depth piece in Happy Valley. He earned On3 True Freshman Midseason All-American honors and finished with eight tackles, a sack, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. That is a young edge who clearly belongs on a big stage.

Chaz Coleman is a perfect fit for Jay Bateman’s "chaos"

New defensive coordinator Jay Bateman loves "hybrid" defenders. He wants guys who can rush the passer, drop into space, and confuse offensive linemen with their athleticism. Coleman fits that mold perfectly.

At Warren G. Harding High School in Ohio, Coleman wasn't just a defensive end. He played quarterback, tight end, and linebacker. He was a basketball player known for high-flying dunks. He is 6-foot-5, long, and moves with the fluidity of a skill player rather than a traditional hand-in-the-dirt lineman.

That is exactly the kind of athlete Kentucky needs to replace Steven Soles Jr., who recently entered the portal. Soles gave Kentucky a speed-rush element that disrupted backfields; Coleman offers that same burst but with a frame that can grow into an every-down SEC terror.

Closing the deal twice

The relationship is already there for player and school. Kentucky’s previous recruiting staff identified Coleman early as a "late bloomer" with massive upside. They were right. The only problem was that James Franklin saw it too. Now Will Stein will get his shot where Mark Stoops failed to convince Coleman out of high school.

Now, with Coleman looking for a new home, the pitch from Will Stein and Bateman is simple, come play in Lexington under a defensive coordinator who will make sure you shine.

In the portal era, proven young edge talent with multiple years of eligibility doesn’t sit on the shelf for long. Elite pass rushers are the second-most valuable commodity in the sport behind quarterbacks. Kentucky needs to make sure Coleman doesn't slip away twice.