KNOXVILLE - Daniel Bituli was ready to get back out on the playing field for the Tennessee Volunteers.
After missing the first two games of the season while recovering from a preseason knee procedure, the 6-foot-3, 252-pound senior inside linebacker returned to the lineup against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, which the Vols defeated 45-0.
He didn't play a ton - building a 38-0 halftime lead, nobody did - but the important part was just getting some game action as the schedule turns to Southeastern Conference play this Saturday at Florida.
"It feels good," Bituli said Saturday. "It just makes you appreciate it more when you're on the sideline watching the guys go out there and battle. I'm just glad to be back and support my teammates how I can and play with them."
His absence could serve as a net positive for the Vols. Junior Will Ignont gained experience as the team's defensive play-caller in the first two weeks. True freshman Henry To'o To'o also spent some time calling plays. There were alignment issues in the first game; none since.
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Tennessee linebacker Daniel Bituli (35) blocks a pass from UTC quarterback Nick Tiano (7) during a NCAA football game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 in Knoxville, Tenn.Sophomore Jeremy Banks continued to show some promise as he continues the transition from running back to linebacker, a change made midway through spring practice due to the lack of depth.
Banks had a pair of interceptions against the Mocs.
"I told him when he intercepted that first one that the first guy tackled him and that most good running backs make the first one miss," Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said Saturday. "So I made sure to point that out. I'm glad that Jeremy got to play, and he's a guy that is still learning what it takes to be a good football player at the collegiate level. He's learning about the time you have to put in on your own to get prepared, and all of that comes with maturity and being around guys that know how to do things the right way.
"He's a guy that continues to improve, and I'm glad he was in the right spot one time. The second time he probably didn't have nearly as good of coverage, but it was good to see that. One thing about guys that handled the ball in high school and play defense in college, they get turnovers. They're used to handling the ball, and you saw that in a running back getting two interceptions today."
After this Saturday's game against the ninth-ranked Gators, the Vols are off for a week before facing third-ranked Georgia on Oct. 5. A game against Mississippi State follows before traveling to second-ranked Alabama.
The challenges get tougher from this point forward, so getting everybody as much quality game time as possible should aid the Vols, who are relatively young in all three levels of the defense.
One person not young? Bituli, the defensive leader with 19 career starts and 171 career tackles.
"Our entire linebacker group is on the same page," To'o To'o said Saturday. "But being able to have Daniel as a leader out there was great. Daniel is one of the guys I look up to, so it was definitely great to have him."
Added Bituli: "It was good to go out there and get a game behind me before I went into SEC ballgames. When you're playing these SEC teams it's a whole different world, so being able to go out there and get this rust off has really been good for me."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.