Defending the SEC East title in Knoxville will be a challenge now that four-year starter (and holder of numerous school passing records) Erik Ainge finally moves on. Finding the person to fill his shoes will be the biggest task. High School Parade All-American Jonathan Crompton will get the first shot and is the only QB on the roster to have received any snaps in '07. Even though division rivals Florida and Georgia will likely be coming in as top five preseason favorites, don't count out Phil Fulmer's team just yet. The surrounding talent carries a qualified résumé. TB Arian Foster recorded his first 1000-yard season and is currently just 129 yards short of UT's all-purpose record for yards in a season. The only other significant loss on offense other than at QB is the loss of TE Chris Brown. The Vols have the fewest number of senior offensive starters in the entire SEC. The defense, too, has much about which to be positive. The team’s top two tacklers are back at LB after both earned All-SEC post-season honors. The big surprise of ’07 has been the emergence of Eric Berry at safety. In his first year he snagged a team leading five interceptions and earned Freshman All-American honors (Rivals.com). However, this secondary has a ways to go in terms of chemistry. The nation's 84th ranked pass defense is going to need a few new DEs to supply more pressure after UT finished as the nation's 85th ranked sacking team. There is certainly work to be done by this coaching staff if it wishes to get back to Atlanta. Enough talent exists to rank this team higher, but no one is quite sure how the Vols will respond after losing long time starter Erik Ainge. They may not miss him at all. For certain, this will be at the top of the SEC headlines as next season rolls around.