Coming off its most successful season in more than a decade, the Denison football team started spring practice today with an eye towards what the Yellow Jackets hope will be an even better year.

But there are several questions facing Denison as it practices over the next six weeks. And while nothing will be completely decided before two-a-days in August, plenty of evaluation will take place before then.

* The biggest thing will be how this group reacts to being thought of as a state title contender. Going into last season and carrying a 4-6 record the previous year, Denison was going to be an improved team. But very few thought 12-1, with the loss coming to the eventual state champions, and a record-producing offense would be what happened. The Jackets will begin the year as a top 10 team in Class 4A, more than likely in the top five. There will be immense pressure considering the talent level. Can they handle it?

* On defense, there are no questions up front. The entire defense line returns after having to replace all but one starter last season. But in the back half, there are several question marks. Two of the three linebacker spots are open -- sophomore Stacy Golston returns. Three of the four secondary spots are open -- junior Cody Reeves is back. But trying to find replacements at the other five spots, considering the production lost, is most likely going to be the key to Denison's season. Gone to graduation is linebacker Brandon Jeffery, the team's leading tackler, and interception leaders Shalamar Traylor and Aston Hughes.

* On offense, seven starters return. But that doesn't mean there won't be some mixing and matching. The things we know -- Jordan Taylor's at quarterback, D.J. Jones is the tailback, Corbin Boettger's the center, Dillon Wedel and Jaqwaylin Arps are at tackle and Hudson Milford and Cody Reeves are the slot receivers.

* The battle for starting spots begins at guard with both jobs open. Those taking over replace a pair of two-year starters in Casey Fenn and Christian Lopez. Whoever lines up at right guard has it easier since he will be sandwiched between Boettger, an all-state center, and Arps, an honorable mention all-state pick.

* The two outside receiver positions are also up for grabs after the graduation of Matt Davis and Devin Jackson. Both players proved that a starting job doesn't rely on how well you catch the ball -- Jackson had great speed to stretch the field while Davis was such a great blocker he was a second-team all-district selection despite catching just three passes all season.

* Jordan Watson. The freshman excelled as he bounced between the freshman and junior varsity teams. Now where does he fit, if at all, with this year's varsity? At worst I think he fits as the third-team quarterback behind Taylor and Hudson Milford. At best, perhaps he is one of the starting outside receivers. Head coach Cody White likes his quarterbacks to be receivers to help them understand the position behind center better. The dilemma comes in trying to figure out if Watson's development is better on JV or on the varsity, where there might not be a starting spot available for him.

* Backup running back. You may laugh at this but it might be one of the biggest concerns. Jones had the best season in Denison history -- 2,633 yards and 35 touchdowns on 238 carries. It is highly doubtful he'll reproduce those numbers again, especially since every defense that got burned last season is going to sell out to keep him from getting loose this year. Ben Williams had 250 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries as the primary backup with Robert Petty, who averaged five yards per carry, as the third string. Both graduated. Another Williams, Joseph, may spend his senior season as the main backup after spending last season with the junior varsity. In an effort to keep Jones fresh for a potentially long playoff run, whoever the backup is may get a lot of carries.

* Both special teams spots are open due to graduation. Evan Ramsey handled punting duties and Jacob Powell was the kicker. This is the time of year where someone can jump to the front of the depth chart and stay there.

* The freshmen. Those rising sophomores will get a chance to catch a coach's eye in the coming weeks. Two years ago the varsity was full of sophomores -- Jones, Taylor, Arps and Reeves among them. Last year's team started two in Golston and Wedel. Will the trend continue with a sophomore -- perhaps Watson -- finding his way onto a starting unit?