Houston Texans Rookie DB Already Making Big Plays

Calen Bullock went from being a third-round pick to a potential playmaker for the Houston Texans in his rookie training camp.

Jeremy Brener | Aug 22, 2024

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-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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Houston Texans

The Houston Texans aren't expecting their rookie class this year to be as strong as last year's, and there's nothing wrong with that.

The Texans had arguably the best rookie class in franchise history in 2023 with quarterback C.J. Stroud, defensive end Will Anderson Jr., center Juice Scruggs, wide receiver Tank Dell and linebacker Henry To'oTo'o all making big impacts. Now, the Texans may have another high-profile rookie in third-round pick Calen Bullock.

“Calen has been steady. He’s been making plays for us," head coach DeMeco Ryans said. "He’s been consistent throughout practice. He finds a way to get his hands on the ball every day in practice, so I’m excited about his growth and his development as a young safety in our system. I think he has a chance to be one of the better ones that I’ve had a chance to work with.”

Bullock has been feeding off of veteran defensive back Jimmie Ward, who has helped him get acclimated to life in the NFL. But Ward also feels like he can benefit from Bullock as well.

“We really have been helping each other," Ward said. "You never can stop learning in this League. Just if he asks me questions, I’ll tell him how I play it and how I see it and the same thing with him. He’ll tell me certain stuff, how he plays it and how he sees it. And then I feel like that helps everybody.”

Bullock will compete for playing time alongside Ward, Eric Murray and Jalen Pitre among others, but he is proving that he is worthy of consideration to be in that secondary every Sunday competing for the Texans.

Stick with TexansGameday for more FREE coverage of the Houston Texans throughout the offseason.

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Published Aug 22, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.