Dont'e Thornton got the ball in his hands at Oklahoma and was off.

The Tennessee football wide receiver jetted 66 yards for a touchdown untouched after snagging a Nico Iamaleava pass near the end of the first quarter. It's the type of play Thornton has shown he is capable of this season for the Vols as a big, fast playmaker on the perimeter.

"For him, it is being able to go play free and confident," wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope said. "As long as he is doing that, I think we will continue to get the best version of him."

Tennessee has gotten that from Thornton through four games. The senior leads the Vols with three touchdowns and 242 receiving yards on seven catches as the No. 4 Vols (4-0, 1-0 SEC) prepare to play at Arkansas (3-2, 1-1) on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

Is Dont'e Thornton the best Tennessee football touchdown threat at wide receiver?

Thornton has been incredibly efficient with his opportunities this season in turning catches into touchdowns.

He scored two touchdowns on three receptions in the season-opening 59-3 win against Chattanooga. He has scored one on his next four.

Pope said part of his job as a wide receivers coach is to identity the hot hand at wide receiver, including within a game.

"He got a bunch of snaps last game — Bru (McCoy) as well — because they were the hot hand," Pope said. "When you’ve got a room like that, you have to be in tune and you have to be intentional with how the game is going and who is hot right now."

The rest of Tennessee's wide receivers have combined for two touchdowns. Chris Brazzell II and Mike Matthews have one each. UT's tight ends have four total touchdowns.

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Should Dont'e Thornton get more snaps and catches?

Thornton has played the fourth-most snaps among Tennessee wide receivers, according to PFF. He has the third-most among outside receivers.

"Every guy is going get an opportunity and get time," Pope said.

The 6-foot-5, 214-pound Thornton has played 87 snaps, trailing McCoy with 176 and Brazzell with 154 among outside receivers. He is slightly ahead of Chas Nimrod with 83 and Kaleb Webb with 75.

McCoy leads UT with 12 catches and Brazzell is second with 10. Squirrel White has eight, while running back Dylan Sampson has seven to match Thornton.

McCoy dominated the snaps at Oklahoma, playing 63. Thornton and Brazzell effectively split time at the opposite outside receiver spot. Thornton played 27 snaps to Brazzell's 29.

Pope said Brazzell, a Tulane transfer, continues to chase consistency in his first season at UT. He said the sophomore has to repeatedly meet Tennessee's standard.

In the meantime, Thornton is producing and making the most of his snaps.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football: Donte Thorton not getting ball enough, stats show