The ink has yet to dry on Tennessee's 13-0 national championship football season, but many already have penciled the Vols in as the preseason No. 1 team in 1999.

Tennessee will return seven starters on offense and seven starters on defense, and the Vols are recruiting players who could have an immediate impact.

Here is a look at the 1999 season outlook by positions:

Quarterback: Tee Martin leads the way. Martin, 13-0 as a starter, finished the season ranked 20th in the nation in passing efficiency. Martin was 11-of-18 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions against Florida State's No. 1-ranked pass defense in the Fiesta Bowl.

New offensive coordinator Randy Sanders showed a willingness to open up the offense, allowing Martin to throw the deep ball and showcase his abilities. Martin had six runs of 30 yards or more last season, and his 20-yard scramble against the Seminoles was UT's longest run in the game.

Martin, perhaps the most versatile quarterback in the nation, is worthy of Heisman Trophy consideration. Burney Veazy and Joey Mathews will compete for backup duties.

Running Back: Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and Travis Stephens will take turns carrying the load. Sanders has talked about utilizing a "split backs" set so he can get two of the Vols' most dangerous runners in the game at one time.

Lewis says he's going into spring practice as the No. 3 back, but he doesn't plan on staying there. At 6-1, 232 pounds, Lewis vows to return bigger, stronger and faster than he was before a torn lateral collateral ligament in his right knee ended his sophomore season on Oct. 3.

If Lewis comes back at 100 percent, UT could have two Heisman Trophy contenders in the same backfield.

But don't count out the Travises. Henry, a 5-10, 225-pounder, showed brute power and an ability to take over games. Henry posted five 100-yard games in eight starts, and he was the difference in the Vols' 28-24 victory over Arkansas with 32 carries for 197 yards. Stephens (5-9, 185-pounds) is the quickest of the three. Stephens overcame fumbling problems late in the season and led UT with 60 yards on 13 carries in the Fiesta Bowl.

Sophomore Will Bartholomew (6-0, 230) and senior Phillip Crosby (6-1, 243) return at fullback.

Receiver: Cedrick Wilson could end up being the best UT has had in the 1990s, according to Vanderbilt coach Woody Widenhofer. Wilson (5-10, 165) had 33 catches for 558 yards and six touchdowns.

The No. 2 spot is wide open. David Martin (6-4, 210) pulled a hamstring in August and never got on track, finishing with just three catches for 59 yards. Eric Parker (6-0, 163) spent most all of his time returning punts last season. Bobby Graham showed flashes in practice, as did redshirt freshmen Donte Stallworth and Leonard Scott. This is a spot where a true freshman could make a significant impact.

John Finlayson, Eric Diogu and Neil Johnson return at tight end.

Offensive Line: The line is going to be a strength for the Vols next season even though it lost its starting left guard and right tackle.

Right guard Cosey Coleman (6-5, 320) should be a preseason All-American and left tackle Chad Clifton (6-6, 315) also is up for preseason honors.

Spencer Riley (6-3, 300), tabbed the "meanest man on offense" by teammate Fred White, could play center or guard depending on who UT moves or signs. Speculation continues that Fred Weary (6-4, 290) will move from the defensive line to the offensive line.

Toby Champion (6-4, 295) got some snaps at left guard in the Fiesta Bowl, and Josh Tucker (6-5, 295) was used at both tackle positions throughout the season. Redshirt freshmen Tim Hodges (6-7, 315) and Will Ofenheusle (6-7, 305) could compete for playing time.

Mike Barry did wonders in his first year as offensive line coach; his second year should be even more impressive.

Special Teams: They must improve next season. Punter David Leaverton returns after proving something to himself and the country in the Fiesta Bowl. Leaverton pinned FSU inside the 10-yard line twice, and made what Phillip Fulmer referred to as the "most shocking" play of the game when he tackled All-American Peter Warrick in the open field to save a touchdown.

Replacing kicker Jeff Hall, the leading scorer in SEC history, will not be easy. Robert Loudermilk is next on the depth chart, but he has no game experience.

Parker was an excellent punt returner. Scott and Stephens will be among those considered for kickoff return duties. Fulmer won't hesitate to put a deserving true freshman back deep, either.

Defensive Line: It could be the most dominant in the SEC. Tackle Darwin Walker (6-3, 292) could become the best UT defensive lineman since Reggie White. Billy Ratliff (6-3, 280) played a tremendous Fiesta Bowl and made the play of the 1998 season, forcing Arkansas All-American lineman Brandon Burlsworth into quarterback Clint Stoerner, triggering the most fortuitous fumble in school history.

John Henderson (6-7, 285) will work his way into the rotation. Rashad Moore (6-4, 315) and Ed Butler (6-3, 250) need good off-seasons.

The Vols look good at end. Shaun Ellis (6-4, 283) is a returning starter and DeAngelo Lloyd (6-5, 240), Will Overstreet (6-4, 260) and Roger Alexander (6-3, 235) saw a good deal of action. Redshirt freshman Omari Hand has good potential.

Both defensive line coaches Dan Brooks and Steve Caldwell use deep rotations at their positions, so a true freshman could have an impact at tackle or end.

Linebackers: Raynoch Thompson and Eric Westmoreland are two of the finest in the nation. Defensive coordinator John Chavis plans to leave both on the outside in his 4-3 scheme. Thompson led the Vols with 89 tackles. Westmoreland was second with 79 tackles and was playing as well as any linebacker in the nation at the end of the season.

Austin Kemp, Dominique Stevenson and Andre James provide quality depth. The middle linebacker position, perhaps the key spot on defense, is wide open. Chris Ramseur (5-11, 211) filled in admirably for Al Wilson last season, but others will get a shot at the position.

Shawn Johnson (6-2, 217) returns from a fractured left fibula and Chavis said he will consider Judd Granzow (6-4, 235) and redshirt freshman Keyon Whiteside (6-2, 230). Bernard "Godzilla" Jackson (6-4, 255) will get a chance at middle linebacker if he can keep his weight down to 250.

Defensive Backs: They have gone from being a question mark to a strength. Free safety Deon Grant (6-3, 205) led UT with five interceptions and is among the nation's finest. Strong safety Fred White is the hardest hitter of the returning starters. Derrick Edmonds, Tad Golden and Mikki Allen will challenge for playing time at safety.

Fiesta Bowl defensive player of the game Dwayne Goodrich has one of the cornerback spots locked down. The battle to replace Steve Johnson at the other corner will be fierce. Gerald Griffin played well against Kentucky and Florida State, but Andre Lott is also a proven cover man. Willie Miles and Teddy Gaines will compete for time.

Coaching: It doesn't figure to change too much. Aside from Sanders showing a bit more flair in his play-calling than the departed David Cutcliffe, the Vols still will aim for balance and have a reliable power running game.

Chavis will continue to call blitzes and have his team put pressure opponents. Chavis, now accepted as one of the top defensive minds in college football, will have more talent to work with next season.

Fulmer's leadership at the top is sound, but the key for next year's team is what happens within the ranks in the off-season.

This time, the Vols will start at the top of the rankings. Can they handle success as well as they handled last season's adversity?

(Mike Griffith writes for The News-Sentinel in Knoxville, Tenn.)