Texans 3rd Round Pick- USC Safety Calen Bullock Zoom Call With Houston Media

Texans traded up to number 78 in the 2024 NFL Draft to take Calen Bullock, Safety out of USC. He talks about the type of player that Texan fans can expect to see. Also, what he showed on the field at USC. 

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Kelly, congratulations on joining the Texans. When you visited here, what do
you remember about that? Did youget a good feeling about the Texans that
they might be the team the picturesyou went on your other trips and have
a follow up. Yes, whenI took the visits Texas, it felt
great. The whole coaching staff,they walked me with open arms. Everybody
loved me, and I love thecoaching staff there too, everybody else who's

(00:22):
on the staff. So I kindof knew I had a good feeling that
it would be a chance that Iwill go there and pray that hasn't watched
you play a son, how wouldyou describe your style, playing your mentality
toward football? Thank you. Iwas I'm a very diversity beat. You're
gonna see me playing everywhere. I'mgonna come and give my all to this

(00:42):
organization no matter what. I'm gonnaleave everything out there on the field.
I'm gonna always come out here everythingall day. You're gonna get the best
person owning off the field, Alwayscool relations. Cole Thompson USA Today Texans
Wire. I just want to askyou, when you look back at your

(01:03):
time at USC, what would yousay was your favorite memory, and also
do you have a favorite highlight interceptionbecause it was feeling like every other play
you were taking the ball back forfifteen twenty yards down the field. I'll
stay probably my favorite memory was myvery first game my freshman year. I
got to start as a true freshman, go out there and play in front

(01:23):
of a lot of people, andmy emotions was everywhere. I remember me
just crying before the game, justcouldn't believe it that I got to start
being in front of everybody, andI went out there and had a really
good game. So I think that'sthat's really my favorite moment. And then
I would say my very first interceptionmy freshman year versus Washington State, I'll
say that's one to remember. Iremember getting that interception and it felt good.

(01:44):
I called everybody in my family rightafter the game. And then a
quick follow up for you. Whenyou look at a guy like Damika Ryans,
who's been in the NFL, he'sbeen close to the league, he
recently respired just a few years ago, what does it mean to have a
coach that under stands what it's liketo go through the daily life of an
NFL player and also having a defensiveminded coach, especially for your first side

(02:06):
coach to the next level. Yes, sir, it's great to have a
coach like that, especially he relatesto the players. Like you said,
he was a former player also,so he knows what he knows what it
takes, he knows what use playersgo through. So he's gonna be able
to relate to us. And Iknow he's a really awesome coach. So,
Brian Bearfield, Hey, Ken,Welcome to Houston. Brian Bearfield,

(02:30):
big SoRs media around you see me, just call me sorrs. Everybody else
will. So I have two questionsfor you. One, have you ever
been to you know, have youever gotten a chance to visit the city
at Houston? And if so,what did you think about it? Uh?
Yeah, I got to visit whenI take my thirty visit up there,
but I really didn't get to seethe city as much. I was

(02:50):
just at the facility. But Ithink I would love Houston. And the
second question I have for you asa as a former two way player,
you play receiver, yes as well, right, so it's just a way
player when you play it. Doesit make it easier for you as a
defensive back? Knowing that you ranthose routes, see those routes and know
some of their tendencies, does itmake it easier for you on the defensive

(03:13):
side of the ball. Yeah,I would say it helped me a lot
on the deep side of the ballbecause, like you said, I play
receiver. Receiver was my first love, so it helps me. It's like
a tea code. I know whenthey're gonna break down. I know it's
turned mount yards for them to runa certain amountain routes. So it really
helps me on the defensive side.And then it helped me a lot with
like my ball skills. I wouldsay thank you, Johnathan, Alexander kaylin

(03:38):
A, congratulations. I was curious, what do you remember from your thirty
visit with the Texans? And Igot another question after that. I just
remember everybody just there, the wholecoaching staff just walking me with open arms.
Everybody like loved me. It seemedlike it was a great vibe from
everybody in the building. Everybody wastelling me what they loved about me.

(03:58):
Nobody was like trying to out downplayed me like uh like some other business.
Everybody was just telling me, likewhat they expect out of me.
What they see out of me andtelling me I got a bright future.
So that's all. I already lovedthat from the coaching staff. And how
did the I hoped in a littlebit late, So I'm sorry if I
if you've been asked this already,But how did the call go? Like?

(04:18):
How quickly did you find out thatthe Texans and trading up for you?
How did that call go? Uh? It wasn't great the Texas call.
They called me and told me theywere gonna trade up for me,
and then I say, my mostjust started going everywhere and my mom was
next to me, she was crying. But I really I felt good about
the pick because, like I said, I knew the coaching staff. I
knew they really loved me as aplayer and as a person. So I

(04:41):
knew I'll be in good hands.I knew I knew where the organization is
going. I know it's a greatplace for me to be. Kim Davis,
Caitlyn, it is Kim Davis fromChalk Talk. Congratulations and welcome to
the Houston Houston. Two questions.First, what is it then made you
decide? You said, receiver,it was your first left to decide to

(05:03):
settle on the defensive side. Iwould say just going growing up in height,
Like when you're in high school,you go to these camps. Everybody
wants to play receiver. dB isthe hard job. Nobody wants to play
dB. No, everybody is scaredto lose reps and go out there and
and not win every rep. dBis gonna come with that. You're not
gonna win every single rep. SoI remember going to the camps and the

(05:24):
lines was really long, and Iremember like, I want to get these
reps, so I'm gonna go tothe dB side. So I went to
the DV side and it just itworked out from there. And about the
Texans defense, did you see themplay much last year? What do you
know about this? This defensive unit? Defense? And it's a real young
defense. They got some young pieceson the defense. I know the defense

(05:46):
they're gonna play there. They're heardout every single play. Everybody is on
the defense. Teams really close.When I went to the facility, I
got to meet some of the guysalso and got to talk to them and
they'll just tell me like it's ait's a real family up there, and
I know that me going into tothis team, I know I'm gonna be
walking with open arms and and I'mgonna hop on the train and get the
roller with the team, with thedefense, and we're gonna we're gonna go

(06:08):
out here and make plays. Allright? Thank you Brian Bearfield. Kaitlyn,
what what was it like going upagainst Caleb in practice? And the
second question I have? The followup question I have for you is do
you think that you are already preparedto come to the NFL? Especially playing

(06:29):
for USC It seems like you knowthat sideline is start studying, so you
all have, you know, allkind of stars out at your game.
So are you already prepared to comeinto the NFL? Yeah, Well,
the first question Copedian is Caleb Williamsevery single day. It was a blessing
because I know he's one of thebest on that side of the ball,
and he knows I'm one of thebest on my on this side of the
ball. So he pushed me everysingle day. I'll push him every single

(06:50):
day, and we kind of holdeach other accountable every single day on and
off the field. So that's that'sthat's a real close frandomize and he I
know that he's gonna kill where he'sat right now, but it was really
good going against him, and thenUSC prepared me for this next level.
Like you said, it's everybody onthe sideline. I got a lot of

(07:10):
good resources around me, so Iknow I could reach out. I have
great people like Taylor May's in theroom with me, who was once in
my position as a safety, andI know like he helped me develop my
game and helped me to what toexpect at the next level, so I
know I'm fully prepared for this.Thank you. All right, We'll close
with Aaron Wilson and killing you areable to have nine career interceptions, I

(07:36):
would have a nose for the football. How would you describe the way you
instinctively were able to inticipate what thequarterback's doing. And I have a follow
up. I would say just watchingfilm. Watching film helps me play fast
and I know what to expect.I know what to read when I'm watching
films. I said, I wason the offensive side of the ball,
so I know where this quarterback isabout to throw this ball. I know

(07:58):
when to break And I would saythat helped me get a lot of interceptions.
And always being a guy who likedinterceptions and I saw. Thank you
did trips with Falcons, Dolphins,Jaguars. What were some of the other
ones that you remember? Forty nineers, the Chargers. Thank you,

(08:20):
yes, sir, Thanks Kalen,congrats again. Appreciate it. Thank you
so much.