BATON ROUGE - After fielding one of the worst defenses in the SWAC during the 2025 season, new Jags head coach Marshall Faulk tasked his defensive coordinator and former teammate, Todd Lyght, with rebuilding the once-feared unit.

Improving his secondary's ability to create turnovers is near the top of Lyght's list.

"Going after the ball is primary in what we do," said Lyght. "We focus on scooping and scoring. Even if the ball is on the ground after an incomplete pass, we're still working on our scooping and scoring technique. I think our secondary is getting better at attacking the ball. I don't think last year they caught the ball that well in practice; therefore, it showed up in games."

Defensive back Herman Brister III is the lone Jags defender on the preseason All-SWAC team, but Coach Faulk's standout group on the defense so far has been the linebackers.