What a difference a week makes.

Not only did Tennessee earn its first win of the Jeremy Pruitt era, beating ETSU 59 to 3 inside Neyland Stadium, but the Volunteers looked great doing it after starting the contest looking quite sluggish.

Last weekend, a weather delay killed Tennessee’s momentum in the season-opening loss to West Virginia. This week, the Volunteers came out of a weather delay firing away and scored the first offensive touchdown of the day thanks to a punishing run by freshman Jeremy Banks.

Scoring an offensive touchdown against ETSU may not seem to be an impressive figure on face value but considering the way the Volunteer offense was performing prior to the weather delay, it was a huge deal in this game. On the very next play from scrimmage, Tennessee true freshman Bryce Thompson intercepted ETSU and nearly returned it for a touchdown.

Guess who took it into the end zone for the second time in two carries? Banks registered the second touchdown of his young career in the second quarter to bust this game open and give the Vols a 24-point lead that they would never relinquish.

Banks finished the game with 62 yards on 13 carries with two scores and the Vols rushed for a total 190 yards in the game. That total came on 44 carries, which averages out to 4.3 yards-per-rush. That’s a total that needs some work heading into conference play but at least it’s a start.

Quarterback Keller Chryst got in the game by the second quarter. That may not seem like a significant note but Pruitt has been very vocal about the need to develop a backup quarterback in Knoxville. Jarrett Guarantano is entrenched as the team’s starter but he’s had to leave the field due to injury in the past and with the upcoming SEC gauntlet that’s upcoming, the offense needs to have an insurance policy that has actual game experience.

Guarantano finished the game completing eight of 13 throws for 154 yards. He did not record a touchdown or an interception. Chryst finished three of three for 70 yards and a touchdown.

The first big play of the game for the Vols came on a blocked punt, which was returned for a touchdown by junior defensive back Marquill Osbourne. The SEC Network shared a video of the play, which can be viewed below:

Tennessee fans showed up in droves to witness the first home game of the Pruitt era, as the official announced attendance for the game was 96,464. The Vols will play inside Neyland Stadium next week against UTEP.