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Houston Texans' Calen Bullock Earns Best NFL Rookie Grade: 'Full-Time Starter' Says Analyst

Former USC Trojans safety Calen Bullock made his NFL debut for the Houston Texans and earned the best NFL rookie grade. "Only a matter of time till he’s a full-time starter” says NFL analyst.

Kyron Samuels

Mar 1, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Southern California defensive back Calen Bullock (DB48) works out during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Mar 1, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Southern California defensive back Calen Bullock (DB48) works out during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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Former USC Trojans safety Calen Bullock made his NFL debut for the Houston Texans in a win over the Indianapolis Colts and earned the best NFL rookie grade.

“Bullock has ball skills you can’t teach," ESPN Texans Reporter DJ Bien-Aime told USC on SI Reporter Kyron Samuels." He’s a real-deal center fielder. He knows how to read quarterbacks' eyes and makeup ground to make plays on the ball. Only a matter of time till he’s a full-time starter.”

Rundown:

NFL rookie debuts are often colossal letdowns. Regardless of the sport, asking young players to come into the fold and produce is a dice roll. In the National Football League, producing immediately is one of the most difficult tasks in professional athletics. 

The challenge is especially unnerving in a specific way for players who are asked to make an immediate impact on a team that is expected to contend for high playoff seeding, a division title, and potentially a Super Bowl run. The physical transition is hard enough, but the added pressure of expectation can be a burden.

Houston Texans rookie safety Calen Bullock is being asked to step into a contributing role by Coach Demeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke. Bullock, a two-time All-Pac-12 selection from his two seasons of starting at the University of Southern California, was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

In the preseason, Bullock hit the ground running: "He’s done a really nice job of the communication piece. We ask a lot of our safeties and communicating in our defense…He’s picked that up as he’s been here the past couple weeks. I know he’ll continue to improve upon his communication skills." Said Coach Demeco Ryans after a minicamp session this summer. 

Strong Starting Point:

But to be honest, you never know how much the work will translate until you see it in live regular-season action. Bullock made his NFL debut on Sunday in a division matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The game was a barn burner that the Houston Texans won 29-27 and Bullock made his mark on the game.

Bullock finished the game with three tackles, one pass breakup, and an interception of Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. As a result, Bullock earned the highest PFF grade of all rookies in the National Football League for Week One. To qualify, the player had to take at least twenty snaps, so it’s whatever the criteria is, it’s compared to the most active rookies in the league.

There’s no need to overreact to a week one showing for a rookie, but as far as starts to a career go, you couldn’t ask for a much better beginning. 

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Kyron Samuels
KYRON SAMUELS

Kyron Samuels is a former college and professional football player now a writer, analyst, & digital host. Kyron is a writer for USC Trojans on SI and contributes to Oregon Ducks on SI. A graduate and letterman at Jacksonville State University, Samuels was a three-year starter, two-time all-conference, and won three consecutive conference titles. After a four-year professional stint between the AFL & XFL, Samuels retired from football. In 2022, Samuels was inducted into the Fairhope Athletic Hall of Fame. Post-playing career, Samuels has become a credentialed sports media member covering the NFL, UFL, USFL, & college football. The NFL Combine, Reese’s Senior Bowl, & East-West Shrine Bowl are amongst the events Kyron has covered. As a guest and host, Samuels has been featured on ESPNRadio, FoxSportsRadio, & IHeartRadio. Outside of sports media, Samuels works as a scouting consultant and has experience coaching at the collegiate level.

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