KNOXVILLE -- Willie Martinez knew his secondary was one absence away from joining a few of Tennessee's other injury-riddled position groups this round of spring practices.
Then cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, a returning starter, came down with a case of mononucleosis that will sideline him for a few weeks.
Now the Volunteers are down to three healthy scholarship corners (Cam Sutton, Rashaan Gaulden and Malik Foreman), though that number will be boosted by some summer arrivals from the 2015 recruiting class.
"We're doing the best we can right now because we have low numbers there," Martinez said after Thursday's practice. "We knew we only had four corners going into the spring, and we had to stay reasonably healthy to do that, to be productive and get something out of it. We're getting by."
Sutton is one of Tennessee's defensive stalwarts, but the coaches have been pleased with what Gaulden and Foreman have done with their increased opportunities.
Tennessee defensive back Malik Foreman (22) bobbles a pass during spring practice at Haslam Field on March 26, 2015 in Knoxville.A rising sophomore who played primarily on special teams last season, Gaulden is interchanging with Sutton between one corner spot and the nickel corner position left vacant by the departed Justin Coleman.
Defensive coordinator John Jancek called Gaulden "a tremendous talent" who needs to continue learning and growing.
"We had him backing up Justin Coleman the whole time this fall," Martinez said, "so he learned from someone that did a really great job. He roomed with him the whole year. We did that on purpose. I think that was very beneficial for him."
Martinez said the Vols loved the 6-foot-1, 173-pound Gaulden's physical approach and athletic ability coming out of Franklin's Independence High School, where he made 193 tackles as a senior.
"Those are the two main things you need at that position," he said. "He's doing a nice job. I don't know if you call it 'a natural' or what, but when you're physical and you're athletic you've got a chance to be pretty good. He's shown that early on in these practices."
Foreman, a rising junior with 20 career tackles, is one of the fastest players on the team.
"You could see Malik coming on at the end of the year," Martinez said. "We feel real comfortable, and his (maturity) level has really improved and just understanding what to do.
"He's playing a little bit more physical than he has in the past, but he's had some really good practices here where he's made some plays with the ball in the air that we love to see. Malik's coming on."
Hoke on hand
Former Michigan coach Brady Hoke, fired after the Wolverines went 5-7 in 2014, has been on campus this week and attending Tennessee's practices.
The 56-year-old former San Diego State and Ball State coach and new Vols offensive coordinator Mike DeBord have a relationship that goes back more than three decades.
"I was a graduate assistant at Ball State in 1978, and he was, I believe, a junior, so he says I was his coach," DeBord recalled. "He's just trying to make me feel older than him. I'm only one year older than him, I think, but it's really good to see him. We've had a great relationship for a long time.
"He's a guy that's passionate about football, and it's really good to talk to him about football."
DeBord and Hoke, a longtime defensive line coach, were on Michigan's staff together in the 1990s, and Hoke coached against both DeBord and Tennessee head coach Butch Jones when they were at Central Michigan, while at Ball State for six seasons (2003-08).
"He came here to see how we practice and everything about our program here, but you always share ideas," DeBord said. "He's a great resource. We share ideas all the time, with everybody, anybody that we do that (with)."
Weatherd watch
Tennessee is employing second-year junior college transfer Chris Weatherd in the same hybrid defensive end-linebacker role this spring that Curt Maggitt played last season.
The 6-4, 225-pounder from Texas often came on the field and replaced a defensive tackle last season in pass-rushing situations simply because the Vols had to get his speed and athletic ability on the field.
"I hope his role expands," Jancek said. "That's going to be on Chris, but he has shown some things. His speed and quickness is a benefit, just as long as he can hold up on the line of scrimmage as a defensive end. That's really going to be the question for him. He's got to get bigger and stronger."
"He can make up for things that happen out there. I forget what game it was -- it might have been the Kentucky game -- but we were spying him on the quarterback. They threw a screen and he just ran out there and made a play on it. Those are the things that he gives you."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.