Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt razzed Jeremy Banks after his first career interception on Saturday.

Chattanooga running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks grabbed Banks by the ankles, tackling him to end Banks’ interception return after 6 yards.

“Most good running backs make the first one miss, so I made sure to point that out,” Pruitt joked after Tennessee’s 45-0 victory.

Banks is a converted running back who is learning the ins and outs of being a linebacker. He showed his potential at the position on Saturday, intercepting two passes to go with three tackles.

“One thing about guys that handled the ball in high school and play defense in college, they get turnovers,” Pruitt said. “They’re used to handling the ball, and you saw that in a running back getting two interceptions today.”

Pruitt welcomes the opportunity to shift guys to different positions, and Banks has been a man on the move during his time in the program.

Banks signed as a three-star running back out of Cordova. He spent most of his freshman season at running back, where he gained 185 yards. Pruitt moved Banks to linebacker during the season. Banks practiced there for a few weeks before moving back to running back.

In the preseason, Banks was back at linebacker. The Vols needed him there to provide depth. He quickly climbed the depth chart to where he’s a second-string inside linebacker. He has seven tackles.

Pruitt said Wednesday during his “Vol Calls” radio show that Banks fancies himself a running back and that he might want to move back there. Pruitt does not want to force a player to play a position he doesn’t want to play, but it’s clear the coach thinks Banks’ potential is higher at linebacker.

“I think if he played linebacker full-time, he could be as good as any linebacker I’ve ever coached,” Pruitt said on his radio show. “That’s a decision that we’ve got to make moving forward.”

Tennessee’s linebacking corps isn’t as thin on depth anymore thanks to the return of starting middle linebacker Daniel Bituli, who missed the first two games after undergoing preseason knee surgery.

Bituli and Henry To’o To’o form Tennessee’s first-string unit at inside linebacker. Banks and Will Ignont are the top backups.

At running back, Tennessee uses a three-player rotation consisting of Ty Chandler, Eric Gray and Tim Jordan. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Banks would offer Tennessee a different type of running back. He, more than any other running back on the roster, relishes contact.

However, that mentality comes in handy as a linebacker, too.

“He loves contact. We all see that,” Bituli said. “He’s a great athlete, and I feel that he can do both positions. But as far as being a linebacker, I love seeing him in that LB room because he brings a lot to that room, and I’m glad to have him.”

Staying at linebacker might offer Banks the best path toward becoming a starter, too.

Chandler and Jordan are juniors, and Gray is a freshman. Meanwhile, Bituli is a senior, so Tennessee will need a new starter next season to slide in alongside To’o To’o.

“We need him back there (with the linebackers),” To’o To’o said. “JB plays a big role. He’s a hard hitter, and he’s able to cover, like you guys saw (against Chattanooga).”

Blake Toppmeyer covers University of Tennessee football. Email him at blake.toppmeyer@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.