The Volunteer State USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Even in the SEC's pressure cooker, coaches usually enjoy a honeymoon season in Year 1 of a tenure. Expectations usually aren't as lofty, with many fans willing to shift blame for any shortcomings as a failure of the previous coach to leave behind a decent roster.

Does Tennessee's Josh Heupel deserve a free pass in his first season? 

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Tennessee football's quarterback competition remains "wide open" following spring practice, coach Josh Heupel said after Saturday's spring game.

And the competition is getting more crowded after Michigan transfer Joe Milton announced his commitment to Tennessee on Monday.

On this episode, John and Blake handicap the quarterback competition entering the summer and debate which quarterback has the highest ceiling.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Tennessee football's quarterback competition is about to get more interesting. 

The Vols are expected to add Michigan transfer Joe Milton as a summer enrollee. 

Milton would become Tennessee's fifth scholarship quarterback – assuming the Vols don't lose anyone to the transfer portal ahead of the 2021 season.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

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Four SEC football programs fired their coach during or after the 2020 season. New coaches in 2021 are Tennessee's Josh Heupel, Auburn's Bryan Harsin, South Carolina's Shane Beamer and Vanderbilt's Clark Lea. 

On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake and John of the News Sentinel evaluate those hires and rank them in order of best to worst. 

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Tennessee linebacker Aaron Beasley has been suspended indefinitely following an animal abuse allegation in which Beasley is accused of causing serious injury to a 6-month-old cat belonging to his girlfriend's roommate.

The incident remains is under investigation by Knoxville police. Beasley has not been arrested or charged.

How should Josh Heupel handle this situation?

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Kaidon Salter earned a suspension before competing in his first Tennessee football practice. 

That's about the last way you want a four-star quarterback to begin his first season.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: https://knoxne.ws/2R3WbeY

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.