KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin laughed when asked about his place in Vols' history.

"Man, I don't know," Martin said, shaking his head. "I'm not looking that far ahead. I guess I'd like to be remembered as a winner that fit in with the rest of the team."

That's easy enough. Martin, elected as a captain by teammates, is 16-1 as a starter. In 1998, he led his team to victories over teams with more heralded quarterbacks such as Donovan McNabb, Tim Couch and Quincy Carter en route to delivering the only unbeaten national championship season in Tennessee history.

Martin will go head-to-head with Carter again Saturday night when the Vols' play host to the Bulldogs.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge," Martin said. "I think this is going to be one of those games where players will have to make plays."

Martin's passing numbers aren't superior, but he has been efficient.

"I don't even look at my stats," Martin said. "Now, I remember interceptions because I don't like making them and you can learn from mistakes. But yards and all that ... I just want to set my team up to win."

Martin has proved adept in that department, bringing the Vols from behind in the fourth quarter of four victories.

"Tee has got a knack for making the plays when you need them," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "I wouldn't trade him for anybody."

Martin could easily be atop Heisman Trophy watch lists had the Vols finished their comeback bid in a 23-21 loss at Florida.

Martin, playing with a separated throwing shoulder, rallied Tennessee from a 23-7 third-quarter deficit. UT's final drive stalled at the Florida 42, when consecutive runs on third and fourth down failed to gain the 3 yards necessary to convert.

Martin, who was sacked seven times and finished 16 of 39 for 192 yards, took the blame.

"If I would have hit a lot of passes, it would have changed the game," he said. "But I'm not going to say what-if."

Martin makes it a point not to deal with hypothetical situations. That's how he has been able to follow one of the most decorated players in UT history.

"Peyton Manning was a great football player and a great person for the University of Tennessee and college football," Vols' offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said. "For Tee to step in and fill that position after Peyton left, it was a daunting task.

"It's kind of like being the next coach at Alabama when Bear Bryant retired. I don't know how anybody could have done it any better."

Manning, a four-year starter, holds most every UT passing record.

Martin, a 6-3, 222-pounder, holds most every UT quarterback record in the weight room.

Over his 46 career starts, Manning averaged 32 pass attempts per game.

Martin has had 30 or more pass attempts in just two of his 17 career starts.

Still, Martin managed to set three NCAA records in the Vols' victory over South Carolina. Martin was 23 of 24 for 315 yards and four touchdowns. In the process, he set the NCAA record for consecutive completions in one game (23), consecutive completions overall (24) and completion percentage (95.8).

Duplicate orange-and-white No. 17 jerseys started popping up in sporting goods stores across the country after Martin accounted for 297 of the Vols' 392 yards against Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl.

During the summer, a group proposed a campus street be named after Martin, just as Manning, former women's basketball star Chamique Holdsclaw and Fulmer have streets named after them.

Martin politely declined, issuing a public statement: "The championship season was great, but it was a total team effort. If anything, a street should be named National Championship Boulevard."

Sanders wasn't surprised by how well Martin handled the situation.

"He has been in a lot of situations that have been difficult," Sanders said. "Tee has shown he's very level-headed and intelligent. I think he'll have a great opportunity to be an NFL quarterback."

Martin is a virtual lock to be invited to the Senior Bowl, a college all-star game played in his hometown of Mobile, Ala.

"That would be a great honor, but I'm not looking forward to any of that," Martin said. "I know there's something better ahead for this team. I haven't played my best game here yet.

"For now, I'm just going day by day."

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