KNOXVILLE - If Alvin Kamara was frustrated he didn't get more touches in last week's narrow win against South Carolina, the Tennessee running back took it out on North Texas on Saturday.
The junior college transfer turned 15 carries into 127 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns as the Volunteers cruised to an easy 24-0 win against the Mean Green.
"It was great to have that production," quarterback Josh Dobbs said. "That's what we expect out of Alvin. We know the type of player he is and playmaker he is when he gets the ball in his hand. It was great to have that weapon.
"It's so convenient being able to use it."
Kamara is one of the most dynamic players with the ball in his hands on Tennessee's roster, and he proved it on the opening drive of last week's win against the Gamecocks when he had three touches for 47 yards.
He got the ball just four more times in that game, though, even with the Vols going into a lull on offense that nearly cost them that win, and he had just five in the Oklahoma loss in September.
Tennessee handed or threw the ball to Kamara 16 times against the Mean Green.
"It felt good getting those touches," Kamara said. "Give credit to the O-line. They did great all week. Those receivers, they did great all week blocking. Our scheme really came through, and I was able to get a lot of those big runs."
The Vols were largely lethargic on offense against one of the nation's friendliest defenses, but Kamara gave them a jolt with a 27-yard touchdown run on the opening series and a 15-yard score early in the fourth quarter.
"We needed him, and he did a great job of really making the second-level defender miss and getting the ball north and south and provided a spark for us," coach Butch Jones said. "That was great to see, because we needed that. We needed some momentum plays."
Kamara recorded his second 100-yard game of the season, though it was his first since running for 144 against Bowling Green in his Tennessee debut in the season opener, and his two rushing touchdowns give him 10 total for the season.
With 503 yards on 73 carries and 197 yards on 25 catches, Kamara is averaging better than 7 yards per play when he gets the ball on offense.
"He did a great job of just making the right cuts and making us right when we were wrong and being able to read our blocks," left tackle Kyler Kerbyson said. "That was a lot of it, was setting us up to be on the outside of one guy and then cutting inside. Alvin was really capable of doing that today, and it really helps.
"He got his two touchdowns, so I'm sure he's really happy with it."