With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers having to get down to a 53-man roster by the end of Tuesday, many cuts have already been made. Undrafted rookie John Bullock defied the odds and remains on the roster, being told that he made the team to begin the regular season.
Entering training camp, Bullock had a list of players who were projected to make the roster ahead of him. The 24-year-old was consistent throughout camp and the preseason, and proved to the Buccaneers coaching staff that he deserved a spot on the 53.
Coming in with fellow undrafted rookie linebacker Nick Jackson, the pair were constantly compared to one another, and Bullock knew he had to separate himself. The polish that both rookies showed was what impressed head coach Todd Bowles most.
“Very smart football players,” Bowles said of the duo. “They picked the scheme up very well. It’s hard to keep saying they’re rookies when they do everything normal. It’s almost rare when they make a mistake.”
Bullock Found His Niche
As an undrafted rookie and former zero-star recruit who walked on at Nebraska back in 2019, John Bullock knows what it takes to make a team as an underdog. Going through training camp and the preseason, he knew if he focused on being a great special teamer, it could be his ticket to a roster spot.
This mentality paid off, with Bullock earning a spot in large part due to his success on special teams, according to Bowles. The 24-year-old led the Buccaneers in special teams tackles with four across the preseason.
“Special teams-wise, I think that came into play,” Bullock said. “I think that’s kind of how I was [going to] find my niche, find my role. I made sure to tune in to that every single day… Any way I can help this team win, I’m [going to] try to do that. I’m going to scratch and claw, do whatever I can do to find a way.”
With a few linebackers still ahead of him on the depth chart, Bullock’s role should revolve around being a full-time special teamer, while being a rotational piece at linebacker.
The Odds Were Stacked Against Bullock
John Bullock isn’t an otherworldly athlete, with his pre-draft testing numbers earning him a 4.92 Relative Athletic Score out of 10. His college numbers don’t jump off the page either, with two seasons of his six years at Nebraska featuring 50 or more tackles.
The Buccaneers also brought in Anthony Walker Jr. during the offseason on a one-year deal, who was expected to make the 53-man roster by many. Despite dealing with an injury throughout the preseason, Walker got healthy, but was still beaten out by Bullock.
Bullock has done everything the Buccaneers have asked of him to this point, and seems to have the mental make-up to continue being a team-first player. With his underdog mentality, it’s hard to think he’ll ever take an opportunity for granted.
“I’m excited to be [in Tampa Bay],” Bullock said. “… It’s a blessing. Not a lot of people get this opportunity. I’m just truly honored, and I’m [going to] make the most of it.”
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