Latest Chaz Coleman update from Penn State leaves fans with more questions

There are a lot of questions surrounding Penn State football right now. Obviously, the coaching search is the top priority, but the next biggest concern might be what's going on with freshman pass rusher Chaz Coleman.

Coleman is one of the top freshmen and arguably the top young player on the team. The future of the Nittany Lions roster is going to be a big discussion as the coaching search continues and keeping a player with NFL upside like Coleman in the fold will make the next guy's job a little easier. 

Coleman missed the Indiana game with an injury

​The freshman was ruled out of the Indiana game before kickoff and the Nittany Lions definitely missed his disruptive presence on the final drive of the game when Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the game-winning drive.

Penn State interim coach Terry Smith said during his Monday's press conference that Coleman was day-to-day with an injury (undisclosed) and the hope was that he would be available as the week progressed.

​Smith also acknowledged that roster retention is going to be a big part of the immediate future of Penn State football and Coleman is considered a key piece of that.

"He's a big part of what we're trying to build here."

Terry Smith on Chaz Coleman

The underlying question about Coleman's future

Penn State clearly wants Coleman to be part of the future roster. Top-end pass rushers with that sort of twitch and athleticism are commodities and as Coleman's overall game continues to evolve, he has the potential to be a high NFL draft pick down the road.

But the threat of Coleman leaving the Nittany Lions is a very real thing because the coach that recruited him, James Franklin, is likely to have another job next year and, as Deion Sanders would say, he's going to bring some of his own luggage with him. 

Coleman has already burned a redshirt and the window for immediate transfers after Franklin's departure has closed, so the freshman will be with the program for the rest of the season. But it doesn't seem likely that he'll play this week against Michigan State and the longer Coleman is out, the questions about his future will get louder.