It's enough to make a college senior feel elderly.

The freshmen on the Tennessee football team are a precocious sort, constantly smiling and joking around. They take the ribbing from the upper classmen in stride and know their roles in the class system.

But when they take the field, it's all business. And most of the time, it's tough to tell who are the seniors who are the newbies.

The Tennessee freshmen class has had plenty of positive impacts on UT's season, from strong performances in the secondary to superb returns to smart and hard-nosed rushing. They're expected to do the same when the Vols face Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on New Year's Day.

"Anybody that's watched us has seen the impact that our freshmen class has had on our team," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said.

Here are some reference points to put their ages into perspective:

# Wide receiver Gerald Jones: Routinely sliced through the LSU's third-ranked during the SEC Championship game. Jones turned 18 four months ago. The movie Home Alone was released when he was an infant.

# Strong safety Eric Berry: Named to multiple Freshman All-America teams and regarded as one of the best safeties in the nation, regardless of class. He turns 19 later this month.

# Returner Dennis Rogan: Had multiple game-changing returns, including ones against Arkansas and Vanderbilt. Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" was just released when this 18-year-old Knoxville native was born.

# Running back Lennon Creer: UT's third-leading rusher averaged 6.2 yards per carry. Lennon Creer, 19, was two days old when Kirk Gibson hit one of baseball's most famous World Series home runs.

# Kicker Daniel Lincoln: Even though he isn't a true freshman, redshirt freshman place-kicker Daniel Lincoln is one of the nation's best. He was named to the Football Writers All-America team and connected on game-winning field goals against South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Lincoln finished 21 of 28 on field-goal attempts, including 14 of 16 from 39 yards and in.

Young? Sure.

Remarkably talented? No question.

"As a group of skilled guys, it's pretty special," Fulmer said.

Fulmer does not allow true freshmen to speak with the media, but that hasn't stopped others from speaking up. And the player who has received the most attention - and the most accolades - is strong safety Eric Berry.

Berry finished first on the team in interceptions (five), in passes defended (nine), and in fumbles recovered (two). He was named Defensive Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News, and a second team All-SEC team member by the SEC coaches.

"We knew he was a phenomenal athlete during recruiting and knew that he had a chance to be an impact player, and he certainly hasn't done anything to disappoint us," UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said.

"Obviously the athletic ability, the character - a tremendous, tremendous young man. And then he possesses great knowledge. He's just really savvy, smart. He understands football."

Berry starred at Creekside High School in Fairburn, Ga., and was rated the nation's top prep cornerback by Rivals.com. For a lot of stud recruits, however, the transition from high school to the SEC can be a difficult.

It was barely a factor for Berry, who started all 13 games for UT this season.

"He just got better and better and better," Fulmer said. "He's not one of the best freshmen to come through, he's one of the best defensive backs in the country right now, period."

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