Last season, Central Connecticut State University’s secondary featured four players who finished inside the team’s top 10 in total tackles. In 2018, three of those players are gone, with only Tajik Bagley remaining.

As Bagley enters his junior season, he is expected to take on a much greater role. However, after taking guidance from the likes of former Blue Devils Najae Brown, Carlton Nash and Jarrod Cann, he understands how important the role of a leader is.

“It means a lot,” Bagley said, “I try to just fulfill their shoes, pretty much. The same way they brought me up, I try to bring the younger guys up the same.”

In 2017, Bagley ranked seventh on the team with 42 tackles and tied for third with two interceptions. He also finished the season fourth in all of the Football Championship Subdivision with 16 pass breakups.

Through two games in 2018, Bagley ranks tied for second on the team with nine tackles.

The junior defensive back has not only taken on a greater leadership role in the secondary, but has moved positions entirely. After playing cornerback his first two seasons on the team, Bagley was moved to safety for the 2018 campaign.

Head Coach Pete Rossomando has been impressed with Bagley’s play following the change.

“He’s done a great job,” Rossomando said, “I think he’s really settled in at that position and feels good about it. He’s kind of a field general like Najae (Brown) was. He’s going to be great for us there, I know that.”

Outside of his play on the field, Rossomando was also impressed with Bagley’s willingness to change positions in an effort to get younger players in the game plan.

“He unselfishly moved when we felt like we needed a guy to step up and play there,” Rossomando said, “We felt really good about our corners and when we asked Tajik to move to safety, he said he would do whatever it takes to help the team win.”

Bagley, who was voted preseason All-Northeast Conference, hails from Ansonia, Connecticut. He chose to come to CCSU over schools such as Coastal Carolina, Massachusetts and Monmouth. However, three years into his college career, he knew he made the right decision.

“Playing for Central means the world to me,” Bagley said. “It’s a family environment, it’s not too far away from home and it’s just where I love to be. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

CCSU’s 2018 secondary has seen major contributions from underclassmen in the form of freshmen Jahlil Brown and Dexter Lawson as well as sophomores Kenneth Coles and DJ Exilhomme. With a youth movement in place, it will be key for Bagley to lead the younger players as they see more playing time.

Bagley will look to learn from the leaders he had before him and translate that leadership on and off the field. He has already proven to be willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win.

With Bagley in place, CCSU has a strong building block in the secondary as they look to defend their NEC crown.