USC Football: Calen Bullock Receives Nod on Bronko Nagurski Watch List

The Trojans safety will be the anchor of the USC defense.

Junior safety Calen Bullock was named to the Nagurski Preseason Watch List, an award that honors the best defensive player in college football.

Jonathan Allen, Bradley Chubb, Chase Young, and Will Anderson Jr. highlight the award's recent honorees.

Bullock had a team-high five interceptions last season, good for 11-highest in college football. He returned one of his picks for a touchdown and added 48 total tackles on a defense that sometimes struggled to get ball carriers down.

.@CalenBullock ➡️ Nagurski Preseason Watch List (which awards the Best Defensive Player in CFB) 👀‼️✌️ pic.twitter.com/dOk5oksWKV

— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) August 1, 2023

If selected, Bullock would be the first Trojan to win the award since its inception in 1993.

After his strong season last year, Bullock was an AP All-Pac-12 First-Team selection and looked to add much-needed leadership to a young Trojan secondary. 

Bullock has the potential to be a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft should he put together another strong season. The Pasadena native started in all 14 of USC's games last year.

USC will begin their final season in the Pac-12 and will play marquee matchups against Washington, Oregon, UCLA, and Utah and will face a tough nine-week stretch after their Week 4 bye.

The Trojans' quest for their first College Football Playoff berth will begin Aug. 26 against the San Jose State Spartans.