title: Glee (season 3)
text: Chord Overstreet , who played glee club member Sam Evans during the second season , did not return to the show at the start of the third season . According to Falchuk , Overstreet was invited back to guest - star for ten episodes `` with an eye towards becoming a series regular at midseason '' , but Overstreet declined . It was reported on October 18 , 2011 , and confirmed by Murphy six days later , that Overstreet would be returning as a recurring character starting with the season 's eighth episode . With Sam gone at the beginning of the season , Falchuk said that Mercedes `` has this new boyfriend she met over the summer who 's pretty cool '' . Friday Night Lights ' LaMarcus Tinker is portraying Mercedes ' new love interest , Shane Tinsley . Formerly known as `` Bubba '' and then as `` Marcus '' , he is `` a massive linebacker for the McKinley Titans '' . Their relationship was compared to Cuba Gooding Jr. and his wife in Jerry Maguire , as he `` encourages her to want more for herself '' . Ryan Murphy has said they plan to introduce four new cast members , `` kids that come in with their own stories . '' At least two of these are female students : Sugar , who is well - off , self - confident , and has a tin ear , and Sheila , `` a modern - day Joan Jett '' . The recurring role of Sugar Motta is played by Vanessa Lengies . Both Tinker and Lengies appeared in the season premiere , as did a character named Sheila played by Raven Goodwin , who is one of the Skanks , a group of outcast girls that includes Quinn . Another new recurring character is Sebastian Smythe , played by Grant Gustin , a `` gay Dalton Academy Warbler who sets his sights on Blaine '' . Idina Menzel reprises her role as Shelby Corcoran in a story arc that has her teaching at McKinley ; she first appeared in the season 's second episode . Jonathan Groff returned for a third season as Jesse St. James , appearing in two episodes as the new coach of Vocal Adrenaline . Murphy also intended for guest star Gwyneth Paltrow to return as substitute teacher Holly Holliday . Other recurring characters who are returning include former glee club member Lauren Zizes ( Ashley Fink ) , Principal Figgins ( Iqbal Theba ) , football coach Shannon Beiste ( Dot - Marie Jones ) , cheerleader Becky Jackson ( Lauren Potter ) , school reporter Jacob Ben Israel ( Josh Sussman ) , and TV news anchors Rod Remington ( Bill A. Jones ) and Andrea Carmichael ( Earlene Davis ) . Closeted gay athlete Dave Karofsky ( Max Adler ) also returns , as does Finn 's mother Carole Hudson - Hummel ( Romy Rosemont ) along with Quinn 's mother Judy Fabray ( Charlotte Ross ) and Puck 's mother ( Gina Hecht ) .

Question: where does sam go in season 3 of glee

answer: Chord Overstreet, who played glee club member Sam Evans during the second season, did not return to the show at the start of the third season.
answer: Chord Overstreet , who played glee club member Sam Evans during the second season , did not return to the show at the start of the third season. He was invited back to guest - star for ten episodes `` with an eye towards becoming a series regular at midseason '' , but Overstreet declined .