INDIANAPOLIS – Defensive Coordinator Joe Cheshire will oversee a young group of defensive backs on the practice field this year. 2020 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Second Team selection Devin Aguilar is the lone upper classmen in this position group. He will lead a unit of 14 players that includes five true freshmen.
 
Aguilar got the start at cornerback in all 12 games for the Bulldogs during the 2019 campaign. He ranked fourth on the team with 59 tackles and was near the team lead in both pass break-ups (6) and interceptions (2). His first interception of his redshirt-sophomore season came in the home opener vs. Indiana Wesleyan. He also picked off a pass in the win over Jacksonville on homecoming weekend. Aguilar ranked 10th in the PFL in passes defended and 13th in tackles per game by a defensive back. His highest tackle total of 2019 came in the season finale at Dayton when he was credited with nine stops.
 
Mike Manning made an impact on the program as a freshman. He played in 10 games and made 16 tackles. Five of those 16 stops came vs. Marist, and Manning came up with four more tackles in the PFL home opener vs. Drake.
 
Tommy Carlsen played primarily on special teams in 2019. He appeared in nine games, making eight tackles. Carlsen's best effort came vs. Davidson near the end of the year when he made three tackles. Thomas Rousseau had a similar redshirt-freshman season by playing in five games.
 
Trey Mason, Artie Dutmers, Max Luc and Mac Menard will look to see action for the first time once play resumes at BU. Patrick Coury, Nick Goldammer, Kody Leach, Lucas Kozlowski, Connor Reid, and Andres Srsen will also take reps on the practice field to learn the defensive scheme in their first year on campus.