Teams that missed out on getting ball hawks or enforcers at safety during free agency now have the 2024 NFL Draft class to turn to.
USC’s Calen Bullock has earned a lot of buzz ahead of draft week. Here’s a closer look at the prospect, including taking a dive into Bullock’s height, weight, past production, and, lastly, examining his NFL potential.
How Tall Is Calen Bullock?
Defenses either settle on a towering, imposing presence on the back end or a defender with a short build that brings a tank-like frame to the field.
Consider Bullock in the former category. He’s a 6’2″ option for NFL defenses, making him one of the taller safeties ahead of the draft.
How Much Does Bullock Weigh?
This determines if Bullock has the build of a linebacker or comes with ideal weight for safety.
Bullock checks in at 188 pounds. The average NFL safeties, though, tip the scales at 200 pounds.
Sure, Bullock looks “thin” for the position, but his weight allows him to deliver fluid movement on the coverage and closing speed side of things.
How Old Is Bullock?
The average age of this year’s rookie class is 23 years old. Yet, at 20 years old, Bullock is nowhere close to that and is one of the younger prospects for this class.
Three days after the draft wraps up, however, Bullock will celebrate his 21st birthday.
What School Did Bullock Go To?
USC went on to land the four-star athlete out of John Muir High in Pasadena. By nabbing Bullock, the Trojans swooped up the state of California’s 15th-ranked prospect for the 2021 class, according to 247Sports.
Bullock didn’t take long to make an impact at a place known for stout safety play.
Revisiting Bullock’s College Career
In choosing the Trojans, Bullock had a safety legacy to add to. Past USC stars at his position included Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith, Troy Polamalu, and the man Bullock was tasked to help replace, Talanoa Hufanga.
Bullock built his own legacy by emerging as one of the Pac-12’s last takeaway artists. He went on to snatch nine interceptions in his three college seasons and led the conference with five takeaways in 2022.
Bullock additionally showed his knack for denying receptions his way, breaking up 15 passes at USC, including swatting down seven in 2023.
Outside of showing a nose for interceptions and pass breakups, Bullock collected 151 career tackles with 96 solo stops. He witnessed his best tackle production in 2023 by tallying 63 tackles, with 42 solo.
While at USC, Bullock not only had to practice against future NFL talent at receiver with names like fellow 2024 draft prospect Brenden Rice and 2023 first-rounder Jordan Addison, but he even faced projected No. 1 pick Caleb Williams.
“Going against Caleb Williams every day was fun,” Bullock told reporters at the NFL Combine. “Him being a top guy, knowing I’m a top guy on the defensive side, every single day when we went out to the field, we expect the best from each other, and we’re going to compete at a high level.”
MORE: Top Safeties in the 2024 NFL Draft
Were there ever any heated moments with Williams?
“Sometimes he’s going to throw touchdowns and he’s going to make sure he comes running to me and celebrate in my face. And if I pick him off, I’m going to run to him and make sure he hears it,” Bullock said. “But every single day, we made sure we were on each other’s toes and made sure we were going to compete and get better.”
Bullock’s Potential in the NFL
Bullock held his own facing the plethora of league talent on USC’s campus. He later proved he was beyond prepared for the WR talents that awaited him on the Trojans’ schedule.
But will NFL teams look past Bullock’s thin build and look more at his ball skills?
Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings won’t call Bullock the top safety in this class. But he’s labeled him a potential mid-round selection.
“Bullock grades out as a fringe top-100 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. With his athletic profile, there’s a fairly good chance he goes on Day 2,” Cummings said. “In that range, he’d provide the best value in the mid-to-late Day 2 range for teams that value deep safeties with single-high capabilities.”
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Calen Bullock
Cummings took a liking to Bullock’s long-strider speed, coverage instincts, and former WR background — helping explain his interception numbers.
However, Bullock isn’t earning higher draft grades due to his inconsistency on the tackling end. He’s been caught delivering poor technique and bad angles with his tackle pursuits. He was often forced to rely on his other USC defenders to finish off his tackles.
If Bullock gets used properly as a single or two-high safety option in passing situations, he’s capable of thriving in the NFL. Defenses seeking to improve their interception numbers will likely consider him.
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