Brent Vinson

KNOXVILLE — Last season, Larry Slade could barely find five healthy bodies in Tennessee’s secondary.

This preseason, the Volunteers have five cornerbacks with starting experience. And only two can start.

“This situation is much better,” Slade said with the smile that often eluded him last fall.

Notice that Slade didn’t say “problem.” That word is frowned upon by coaches and players alike, despite the fuzzy mathematics of turning five healthy corners into five happy corners.

Seniors DeAngelo Willingham and Antonio Gaines, junior Marsalous Johnson and freshmen Dennis Rogan and Brent Vinson have a combined 27 starts in 82 games.

“It’s very much a positive,” head coach Phillip Fulmer said. “Last year, we were working like heck to get four of them out there. Now we can play five or six guys who have played in ballgames.

“It’s fun to have those guys out there. They’re fun to watch practice.”

Plenty of praise was heaped upon last season’s first-year trifecta of Rogan, Vinson and junior college transfer Willingham, but they became so vital after Gaines and Johnson were lost for the season — Gaines after the second game to a torn ACL, Johnson after the seventh game to a torn meniscus.

The NCAA awarded Gaines a sixth season of eligibility, and both diminutive veterans have shown since the summer that they’re ready to make another run at serious playing time.

“Antonio and Marsalous haven’t backed up a bit,” Fulmer said. “They’re out there to win their jobs back.”

Bruised egos might prove unavoidable, but all five are saying the right things to this point. Vinson, who seems to be the fifth corner in team drills, tried putting some positive spin on the situation.

“The coaches have told us that everybody is going to play,” Vinson said. “Everybody works so hard, and the competition is so intense that coaches don’t know who (will start) yet. Sometimes we’ve talked about making rotations where it’s a lot of DBs on the field.

“I don’t know, but I’m happy. I’m not mad about it. I just love this team, because the guys on this team, we don’t even think about stuff like that. We just think about getting better.”

Others admitted to some understandably selfish thoughts. Johnson said “nobody in their right mind wants to sit on the bench the whole time,” and Rogan admitted that “we wouldn’t be here if we weren’t competitive.”

He added: “It’s definitely a friendly competition, but the competition definitely pushes you every day to work harder.”

Vinson, who earned team respect last season for fighting through a shoulder that popped out of socket “just about once every single day” — injuries left the team no alternative — said he’s back near 100 percent after offseason surgery. Toughness isn’t the issue, nor is talent. Fulmer cited Vinson’s occasional academic problems for his slide down the depth chart.

“He’s in the mix, but he gets work with the 2s and the 3s mostly, right now,” Fulmer said. “Certainly he’ll have a chance, if he does all of the things he’s supposed to do, to get himself back in the mix as a starter.”

Coaches have talked about putting as many as four corners on the field in some packages, and Willingham and Rogan should get some snaps at safety — though safety starters Eric Berry and Demetrice Morley probably won’t go out much, especially in close games.

“Our secondary’s going to be better than it has been in the past,” Johnson said. “The competition is good for us. Nobody can get comfortable or lackadaisical and think any spot is just theirs.

“Everybody’s going to have to keep getting better, and that’s going to be better for our secondary. Having four or five guys who can start, that can only be a good thing.”

Vinson, whose 6-foot frame now carries more than 190 pounds, has asked Slade for some work at safety.

“Coach Slade says versatility will only help you, so I’m taking it upon myself to learn (safety),” Vinson said. “We’re a versatile secondary. We’ve got so much talent, so much speed and so many similar athletes that we can play different coverages, like any of the pro-style coverages that are out there.”

A five-man competition should help the Vols stay fresh and mix and match, if needed, on a variety of opponents.

“Last year, we needed a lot more depth, and we didn’t have any,” Vinson said. “This year, we’ve got more firepower. I think that’s going to help us in the running toward the SEC championship. Hopefully, we’ll do even better than last year.”