by J.T. Toth
Photo courtesy of USC Athletics.
The NFL Draft talk never ends, and we are here at Draft 412 in an effort to keep you ready for the next set of gridiron stars. From today until draft night 2024, we will bring you mocks, profiles, team needs, and everything else related to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Today’s Spotlight - USC, Safety, Calen Bullock
Name- Calen Bullock
Pos- Safety
Team- USC
HT/WT- 6’3” 190 lbs.
Born- 4/30/2003
Home – Pasadena, CA
Calen Bullock attended John Muir High School in Pasadena, California. He played wide receiver and defensive back and was named on the 2020 Prepstar Dream Team. In 2019, he had 6 interceptions on defense to go with 40 receptions for 914 yards and 8 touchdowns. He selected USC over a slew of other D1 offers.
After graduating a semester early from high school, Bullock enrolled at USC in the spring of 2021 and made an immediate impact in the secondary while playing free safety, nickelback and cornerback as a freshman. He made the 2021 Football Writers Freshman All-American team.
Bullock was a key contributor to USC’s secondary in 2022. He started in all 14 games and led the Trojans with 5 interceptions. He also collected 48 tackles and 5 pass breakups, and was named First Team All-American by Pro Football focus. He is a first team Draft 412 All-American heading into the 2023 season.
Bullock has a great mix of range, acceleration and size. He wins a majority of 50/50 balls with his height and athleticism and has good ball skills and wide receiver type hands, barely ever dropping passes/interceptions. He closes quickly on passes underneath and he plays well in zone coverage. He has a sufficient change of direction and can mirror receivers underneath. Quarterbacks stayed away from him a majority of the season and he still had 5 interceptions. He is a playmaker with the ability to change the game at a moment's notice.
However, Bullock can get tunnel vision in zone coverage and tends to pick his receiver early instead of seeing how the play unwinds. He tends to take bad angles in pursuit of ball carriers and will give up extra yards. He is not as physical as you may think by his size, and can get beat off the snap by stronger, faster receivers. At times, he can have trouble in route recognition and will be too aggressive on double moves or pump fakes. He can get overly handsy as soon as a receiver seems to have a step on him.
When watching Calen Bullock, Dallas Cowboys' safety Malik Hooker might make a good comparison. Both are big time playmakers who always seem to be in the right spot at the right time.
Strengths
Size
Hands
Playmaking ability
Change of direction
Weaknesses
Angles
Physicality
Press coverage
Bites on double moves
Final Analysis
Draft 412 likes what Calen Bullock brings to table for the most part. He can be a little over aggressive at times but will eventually make a game changing play.
Draft 412 Draft Prediction- 2nd or 3rd round