INDIANAPOLIS – The back end of the Butler defense is a cohesive unit of experienced players. The Bulldogs only allowed 13 passing touchdowns in 2022, and helped create turnovers by adding eight interceptions.
 
A pair of brothers are set to see playing time for BU in 2023. Trey Mason heads into his redshirt-senior season while his younger brother, Will Mason, gets set for year two at Butler. As a true freshman, Will was a 2022 All-PFL honorable mention selection and made the Phil Steele All-PFL Fourth Team. He ranked third on the team with 53 tackles and came up with two interceptions. Trey became a staple to the BU secondary in 2021 after appearing in 11 games. He had two interceptions that season and heads into 2023 with six pass break-ups.
 
Butler cornerbacks coach Jalen Moss will welcome Kellen Madison back to the field in 2023. Madison contributed in nine games during the 2021 campaign, but missed all of 2022 with an injury.
 
Nick Bafia and Lucas Kozlowski will also see significant snaps this upcoming season. Bafia switched his number in the off-season, but Bulldog fans will hope his production stays the same. As a sophomore in 2022, Bafia ranked second on the team and 35th in the PFL with 59 tackles. Kozlowski has appeared in 20 games for BU over the last two seasons.
 
"I am very pleased with the progress and level of play with the safety position group as we head into the season," Joe Cheshire stated. "We have a very competitive and talented group that is one of the deepest I have ever coached. We are looking forward to the season and competing week in and week out."
 
The Bulldogs will look to stay balanced on defense and rotate players in to stay fresh. Kody Leach, Steven Stephany, Harry Ochs, Noah Schwartz, Kyler Newcom, Andres Srsen, Adam Cipriano, Eric Csala, and Patrick Coury are players to keep an eye on.
 
Freshmen Peyton Daniels and Devaon Holman each had a great camp and could be poised to breakout in 2023. Daniels came to Butler from Hamilton Southeastern and Holman is a local product from Warren Central. Additional freshman from Indiana for Butler include Nick Cloyd (Brownsburg) and Michael Williams II (Brownsburg). Rounding out this position group are three more freshmen in Jackson Stratton, Jack Davis and Dylan Hawthorne.