Calen Bullock Sure Looks the Part

USC safety Calen Bullock can run like the wind all over the field.

He has elite speed and elite athleticism.

It’s the inconsistencies that concern me and leave me unsold on him after this five-game study of 2022 film.

That hasn’t stopped over 25% of NFL Draft platforms from putting a first-round grade on this Trojans safety. NBC Sports Chicago, CBS, Sporting News, Pro Football Network, 247 Sports, Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, USA Today and Pro Football Focus have all stamped Bullock with the big grade.

I always go back to the main job of a safety is to be the last line of defense and I’m sorry (as much as I like him) these four plays are on his football resume.

Range

Another extremely important ability a safety needs in the NFL is range. Covering a lot of ground – – quickly. The greats can come downhill fast in support just as quickly as they can provide help for cornerbacks over the top in the deep halves of the field.

No doubt Bullock has great range and he showed it again and again.

He flows downhill nicely from his safety position, covers running backs into the flats and he can match up and carry tight-end intermediate routes just as easily. He can run with anyone on the field. Rare football speed for the position.

Want

All that is great, but desire separates the players from the pretenders at the position. It’s great to be able to run all around, but the want has to be there.

With Bullock – – it wavers. Sometimes he makes jaw-dropping plays in coverage and in support, so I know it’s in there. Then at other times like against Notre Dame, he wanted nothing to do with trying to get in on a stop by the goal line.

At best his want is inconsistent and we can leave it there for now. Inconsistent doesn’t win in the National Football League. I mean it doesn’t win championships.

This is a critically important position on a defense and dependability is huge.

As we can see – – it’s in him.

Instincts

Wherever the ball is, there’s a good chance Bulluck is in the picture.

Being able to read play flow and feel plays is key.

Bullock shows this ability.

Where does all this leave us?

Not sure about you, but it leaves me on the fence. There is no question Bullock has ‘first-round ability’ from a purely physical standpoint, but the spurts of reluctance and the inconsistencies that are woven into his game tape leave me outside the first-round on him.

Undoubtedly, I will circle back to down the road shortly and take a crack at his 2023 game film to see if there’s been an improvement. It takes a lot for me to get fired about a safety. The last one I put a first-round grade on was Jalen Pitre (No. 37 Texans 2022). I have high standards.

All I can do at this point is grade this block of game film and mitigate the risk when it comes to Bullock.

#7 Calen Bullock 6-foot-3, 190 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Fall 2023 Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 24.8% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of November 10, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game film reviewed (2022): UCLA, Notre Dame, Utah (PAC 12 CCG), Washington State, and Oregon State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 48 tackles (29 solo), 6 passes defended and 5 interceptions

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Fast and athletic ball-hawk type with inconsistencies. Above average motor, but not great. Has a reluctance streak that shows up from time to time. Lines up often in deep safety look manning centerfield. Gets himself where he needs to be. Can fly downhill or cover a lot of ground in coverage fast. Active. Fluid movements. Good change of direction. High football IQ. Capable of making open-field tackles, but didn’t always deliver. Best when he keeps the game in front of him. Weakness is matching up against receivers beyond the short-range one-on-one. Looked inexperienced in those situations (not a cornerback). Handles backs and tight ends in coverage. Productive against the run. Comes up and makes stops or will sit back and wait for it to reach him. Sometimes seems less motivated against the run.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Consistent?

2. Open field tackling?

3. Preventing touchdowns?

4. Desire vs. the run?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.