Don’t look now but Tennessee has a chance to go on a real run to close out the season as Jeremy Pruitt’s team improved to 3-5 overall by beating South Carolina 41-21 on Saturday.

The Vols are currently playing their best football of the season and despite facing some adversity early against the Gamecocks, Tennessee completely dominated the second half and managed to out-score South Carolina 24-0 after halftime.

Immediately after the game, Pruitt made his pitch to recruits regarding the home environment of Neyland Stadium. It should come as no surprise that the Vols are currently hosting several elite prospects this weekend on Rocky Top.

“I don’t know why you wouldn’t come to Tennessee,” Pruitt said in his postgame press conference. “Our fans are as good as any in the country. They are the best.”

When asked about his team’s newfound ability to respond to adversity: 

“I feel like our players respond. We are at a point where if we challenge them, they respond.”

On Jauan Jennings and what he means to the Tennessee program:

(Jennings had seven catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns and took several snaps at quarterback in the Wildcat against South Carolina)

“Jauan has passion for the game, he has passion for his teammates, he has passion for the University of Tennessee, he shows it every day… he is consistent in the way he prepares, the way he practices and I think that’s contagious.”

On stopping South Carolina’s offense in the second half:

“Our guys executed at a higher level in the second half. I felt like the fact we were able to hold them from running the football, I don’t know what the yardage was in the game but they had run the ball pretty consistently against everybody and we got them in some third and longs and we also stopped them in third and short. Coach Ansley made some good calls and our players executed and we got off the field.”