When Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel brought in Michigan transfer quarterback Joe Milton after spring, the assumption made by many was that UT's quarterback situation was in a tough spot.

After all, why bring in another quarterback when the Vols — at the time — had a four-man battle going?

(True freshman Kaidon Salter was suspended during spring practice. He was dismissed from the team this summer and has since transferred to Liberty.)

Maybe the reason Heupel brought Milton in was because he saw a talented quarterback that was available and he knew it would be a terrible idea to turn him away (If a team can get a talented player, they should get him. College football teams can never have enough talent).

After two days of fall practice, it certainly appears that's the case.

Quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle spoke to reporters on Thursday and he sounded extremely happy with the progress of his quarterbacks and the work they've been putting in this week.

Joey Halzle: The QB’s and WR’s have been working hard to get on the same page. Some nights being here until 10pm just working on that timing.

— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) August 5, 2021

Here are some of the comments Halzle made about each quarterback battling for the starting job.

On Hendon Hooker:

• "Hendon Hooker works as hard as anybody I’ve been around, so he’s done a good job of taking advantage of the summer and getting himself ready…He's completely changed his body"
• "He worked his butt off getting his mechanics right where he can make all the throws we need him to make."

On Harrison Bailey: 

• "He's made a big jump off the field mentally. He’s done a great job of grinding in the classroom."

On Brian Maurer:

• "Brian Maurer has done a really good job of digging into what we’re trying to do. He’s done a really good job of trying to take in exactly how we want things done, accepting us and allowing us to coach him in a different way from what he had before."
• "He's got a lot of athletic talent, good arm."

On Joe Milton: 

• "For Joe Milton it’s been more about fine-tuning him into how we play. He hasn’t fought that one bit. He’s bought it and gone with it."

Halzle: All I’ve asked guys to do is go in there and throw the ball aggressively. If you come out there and you’re playing timid because you’re trying not to lose the job, then we have to get that out of you.

— GoVols247 (@GoVols247) August 5, 2021

Halzle noted that there haven't been any turnovers by the quarterbacks during the first two days of practice. He also said the coaching staff is "pressing to figure out who’s going to separate themselves" at the quarterback position.

The Vols want to figure this battle out quickly. But for now, it sounds like a tight battle that any of these guys could win.

Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC