KNOXVILLE - Carlin Fils-aime used the word "honestly" a couple of times Tuesday as he broke down his improbably prominent role in Tennessee's offense last Saturday.
It would have been hard for Fils-aime to conceal the truth.
Did the junior expect to play in Tennessee's 27-24 loss at South Carolina, which was his first game back at running back after a spring switch to cornerback?
"No, sir, honestly," Fils-aime said.
Coach Jeremy Pruitt suggested last week that it would be difficult for Fils-aime to quickly grasp the Volunteers' offense after spending several months as a defensive back.
But with freshman Jeremy Banks moving from running back to linebacker, the Vols needed a fourth running back as they prepared to play the Gamecocks, and Fils-aime volunteered.
"It was more just I wanted to help the team any way that I can," Fils-aime said. "Ever since the first time I got here, I've told the coaches it didn't matter what position they put me in. Shoot, I'll play offensive line if they wanted me to."
Fils-aime carried three times for 20 yards and a third-quarter touchdown that gave Tennessee a 21-9 lead.
The Vols (3-5) host Charlotte (4-4) in a nonconference game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday. It's unclear how Fils-aime will fit into the running back rotation as the Vols try to reach bowl eligibility in the season's final four games.
But the speedy junior from Naples, Florida, already has accomplished his goal of helping the team.
"I was happy, of course, just being able to contribute," Fils-aime said. "I was just happy."
He flashed his speed while running for two touchdowns behind John Kelly and Ty Chandler in the running back rotation in 2017. But when Pruitt arrived as coach, the Vols needed help at cornerback.
With Fils-aime undersized at running back by the preferences of the first-year Tennessee coaching staff, Fils-aime's best shot at playing time this season seemed like it might be in the secondary.
"I actually didn't feel uncomfortable at all," Fils-aime said of his transition to defensive back. "Some of the players, before I got there, they were telling me how I since I was used to running forward that going backward would be a little difficult and sometimes it would be uneasy. But the first day at practice when I started doing the drills, it felt natural."
But with freshmen Bryce Thompson and Alontae Taylor proving they could be trusted right away in the secondary, Fils-aime found himself buried on the cornerback depth chart and playing on special teams.
Fils-aime volunteered to move back to running back, and offensive coordinator Tyson Helton quickly installed a package for him.
With three players in the backfield behind quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, Fils-aime caught a quick pitch from Guarantano as running back Tim Jordan broke in the other direction to provide a decoy. Tight end Eli Wolf threw a quality block as Fils-aime rounded the left side of the line of scrimmage and darted past a pair of defenders for the 14-yard score against South Carolina.
"We just found a couple of special plays that we felt fit his skill set and kind of went with them," Pruitt said. "He'll obviously get more reps this week and probably have a bigger role."
Fils-aime may be Tennessee's fastest straight-line option at running back.
But, honestly, he's just happy to be on the field.
"I just wanted to help in any way that I could," Fils-aime said. "I didn't know that I was going to get in or what was planned. All I know is I was ready for anything, and they called me to go in."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.