USC’s Calen Bullock Selected by Houston Texans in Third Round of 2024 NFL Draft

LOS ANGELES – USC First Team All-American safety Calen Bullock was selected by the Houston Texans as the 14th pick of the third round (78th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft. 
 
Bullock is USC's 525th all-time NFL draftee. USC is second behind Notre Dame's 527 for most NFL Draft picks all-time.
 
Bullock is the 13th Trojan defensive back drafted since 2010, including seventh in the first three rounds in that time frame. 

He is the first Trojan picked by the Texans since linebacker Brian Cushing was selected in the first round with the No. 15 overall pick in 2009.
 
As a junior in 2023, Bullock led the Trojans with 9 PBUs. He also recorded 61 tackles and 2 INTs (including one returned 30 yards for a TD against Utah) while starting all 12 of the games he played in. He earned placement on the All-Pac-12 First Team and the AP Midseason All-America Second Team. 
 
He was a key component of USC's secondary as a sophomore in 2022. He started in all 14 games and led the team in INTs with 5 (ranked 11th in the nation). His 5 INTs were the most in a season since Adoree' Jackson also had 5 in 2016. He also tallied 48 tackles (sixth on the team) and 5 pass breakups (tied for second on the team). Bullock was named a First Team All-American per Pro Football Focus and to the AP All-Pac-12 First Team and the All-Pac-12 Second Team. 
 
Bullock, who enrolled at USC in the spring of 2021 after graduating a semester early from high school, made an immediate impact in the secondary while playing free safety, nickelback and cornerback as a first-year freshman in 2021. Overall while appearing in all 12 games and starting 6 times, he had 39 tackles, 2 interceptions and 3 deflections.  He made the 2021 Football Writers Freshman All-American, Pro Football Focus True Freshman All-American first team and won USC's 2021 Co-Defensive Perimeter Player of the Year Award.  
 
On Thursday (April 25), USC Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Caleb Williams was selected No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears in the first round. With Williams' No. 1 overall selection, USC now holds the record for most players (6) selected as the top pick of the NFL Draft. 

The 2024 NFL Draft concludes with the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday (April 27).