ATLANTA – Tennessee’s 2012 season got off to an impressive start. The same could be said for wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson’s career. And Sal Sunseri’s defense.

The Vols rolled up more than 500 yards of total offense and dispatched NC State 35-21 in front of 55,529 in the Georgia Dome on Friday night  in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff.

Patterson, a South Carolina native who spent two seasons at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, caught six passes for 93 yards and scored on a 67-yard reverse to help stake the Vols to an early lead. All told, Patterson had 165 of the Vols’ 524 yards of total offense.

And Sunseri, making his debut as the Vols’ defensive coordinator, saw his players record a safety and pick off four NC State passes. Tennessee (1-0) had just nine interceptions last season.

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