While there’s something to be said for scheduling a big-time opponent to a home-and-home series, neutral-site games can also be a lot of fun.

This season, Tennessee will open with a game against a tough West Virginia squad, with the game taking place in Charlotte.

On Monday, new Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt joined “The Paul Finebaum Show,” where he explained why he enjoys those neutral-site games.

“I like the neutral site games, especially if they’re at a place where we recruit,” he said. “The city of Charlotte is an area we’re focused on.”

Indeed, Charlotte is a very important area for the Vols right now. 5-star 2019 ATH Quavaris Crouch is a Charlotte native, so getting some face time with him will be important for Pruitt and his staff.

Crouch has been spotted wearing Tennessee shorts a couple of times in the past, so a trip to Charlotte for a game could do a lot of good for the Vols.