It has not taken long for Calen Bullock to make a name for himself with the Houston Texans. On Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, the rookie safety had yet another interception. It was the fifth of the season for Bullock, whom the Texans selected in the third round out of USC this past April.
In addition to his five interceptions, Bullock currently has 44 tackles and a fumble recovered. He should find himself squarely in the running for NFL defensive rookie of the year.
Bullock and the Texans will now go against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on a loaded football Saturday in which the NFL goes head to head with the College Football Playoff.
USC fans are quite familiar with seeing Bullock make an immediate impact. As a true freshman at USC in 2021, Bullock was thrust into an immediate starting role after senior captain Isaiah Pola-Mao tested positive for COVID and was forced to miss the season opener. Bullock held his own in his first start, and became a force in the USC secondary over the next three years.
Bullock’s best season as a Trojan came in 2022. That year, he recorded 48 tackles, six passes defended, and five interceptions, one of which he took back for a touchdown. For his performance that season, he earned first-team All-American honors.
If Bullock continues to play at a high level, he could have more hardware in his trophy case soon enough.