Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Wer’e taking an early look at the top 2024 NFL draft prospects for the Philadelphia Eagles to watch at key positions
The Eagles are just 22 days from the start of training camp, but it is never too early to look at the 2024 NFL draft.
Next spring will see guaranteed locks like Heisman Trophy Winner Caleb Williams (USC), Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Drake Maye (UNC), Joe Alt (Notre Dame), Brock Bowers (UGA), and Olumuviwa Fashanu (Penn State) all battle to round out the top five.
With teams around the league praying to be on the clock, here’s an early of the top 2024 prospects at critical positions.
Highlighting where USC safety Calen Bullock can improve his game in the 2023 college season as a 2024 NFL draft prospect
Next up in the summer scouting series is a player who has appeared in quite a few “too early” mock drafts in the 20-40 overall range.
After breaking down fellow Trojan Caleb Williams, I turned my attention to USC safety Calen Bullock. Viewing the same four games (UCLA, Tulane, Utah and Oregon State), I came away with a few areas where Bullock can help himself in the upcoming season in terms of NFL draft stock.
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The Philadelphia Eagles landed an All Pac-12 and All-American safety in Touchdown Wire’s latest 2024 NFL mock draft
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The Eagles are reloading on the defensive side of the football, and after landing three Georgia defenders in 2023, they could look towards the Pac-12 in 2024.
Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar released his latest 2024 NFL mock draft, and he has Philadelphia landing USC all-American safety Calen Bullock late in Round 1.
The 6-3 190-pounder is a rangy playmaker in coverage who would make for a dynamic pairing with Sydney Brown.
USC has not had a defensive back selected in the first round since Adoree Jackson in 2017 and a safety taken in the first round since Troy Polamalu in 2003.
Bullock started all 14 games on defense with 48 total tackles, a team-high five picks, and five pass breakups. He earned All-American honors from Pro Football Focus and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection.
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The Irish are lucky to have this kid.
[autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] made quite the impression as a Notre Dame cornerback in 2022. Now, he’s starting to bring in the accolades. Morrison has been named to the watch list for the 2023 Lott IMPACT Trophy. This award, which [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] won in 2012, is awarded to the defensive player who best demonstrates athletic excellence and exemplifies IMPACT, which is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
The Irish are scheduled to face several of Morrison’s fellow watch list candidates during the 2023 season. Two of them, defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, represent Ohio State. The Irish also will draw defensive back Calen Bullock and linebacker Mason Cobb of USC. Also upcoming are Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter and Duke defensive lineman Dewayne Carter.
In short, the Irish will be seeing a lot of defensive stars who also are high-character guys in 2023. Those who think offense is getting too much leeway in college football will not be disappointed. At least it seems that way on paper.
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Washington State hit a long pass against Bullock’s replacement right after the ejection. What’s worse: Bullock made a good, clean hit, driving through the shoulders.
This is the kind of thing which can turn a game and a season. It’s also a product of a bad rule which is poorly enforced and implemented.
USC safety Calen Bullock, who had been playing well this season and had been part of a USC secondary which had not allowed a long-ball pass over the top of the defense, was ejected for targeting in the first half of the Trojans’ game against Washington State on Saturday evening.
Bullock was ejected for a thunderous hit in the second quarter. The hit was relatively high, but he did not lead with the helmet or hit the helmet of the Washington State receiver. The hit certainly wasn’t cheap or malicious. It was part of the play, a natural reaction. You can see Bullock drive through with his shoulders and with his arms to the side. It certainly wasn’t spearing or headhunting, and he had a very small hitting zone to begin with. One is not sure what to tell Bullock how he should have hit the receiver on this play:
He made a good reaction, figured out where the play was going, and stopped the receiver with a solid stick.
His reward? An ejection:
Calen Bullock ejected for targeting on this play. Thoughts? #USC pic.twitter.com/OODuIoQW9r
— Trevor Booth (@TrevorMBooth) October 9, 2022
Right after the ejection, his replacement, Anthony Beavers, gave up the long ball USC has successfully prevented this season. The Trojans fell behind 14-10. We’ll see just how costly this ejection turns out to be.
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