Steven Sipple: A key part of John Bullock’s recent rise; why Frank Solich loves idea of fullback camp; and diligent Kirby lands Dylan Raiola
Things I know, and things I think I know: Getting football players in the right positions sounds simple enough. It’s not always the case, though, as Nebraska linebacker John Bullock can attest.
A junior from Omaha Creighton Prep, Bullock had been playing in the secondary for Nebraska until Matt Rhule’s staff arrived following last season and moved him to linebacker.
Tim Johnk says Rhule got it right.
“Safety’s not a fit for John. He’s a linebacker,” said Johnk, who coached Bullock at Prep. “They had tried to make him a safety-nickel type of guy. That’s not his skill set. He’s better closer to the ball. He’s a better run stopper.
“Part of the problem was he hadn’t played much in the back end of a defense. He always had played inside or outside linebacker. He was able to run to the football with a little more freedom, whereas in the secondary you obviously have a lot more pass responsibilities.
“It’s just a different mindset.”
Bullock obviously enjoyed an impressive spring because last week Rhule told reporters that Bullock and fellow walk-on Nate Boerkircher, a sophomore tight end from Aurora, are being put on scholarship.
For casual Nebraska football fans, Bullock’s rise seemingly came out of nowhere. After all, he recorded his lone tackle of the 2022 season on special teams, a solo stop on kickoff coverage at Purdue. He played on special teams in every game of the 2021 season, recording five tackles.
He saw no action at all in 2020 after redshirting in 2019.
And now, he’s risen to possible starting status.
“Boerkircher’s played here and he’s a starting-caliber tight end,” Rhule said last week in reference to Boerkircher’s six receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown last season.
“Bullock, he’ll have a chance to play in the NFL if things go right for him,” Rhule added.
What goes through Johnk’s mind when he hears Rhule say Bullock possesses NFL potential?
Keep in mind, Bullock was just an honorable-mention all-state player at Prep.
“Doesn’t surprise me,” the seventh-year Creighton Prep coach said of Rhule’s high praise. “He was a tremendous player for us. Should’ve been named as an all-state player for us. He played on good teams here. It wasn’t like he was playing on dog-crap teams. For whatever reason, he was a guy who flew under the radar a little bit.”
The Weekly Rundown: Matt Rhule on the big stage, in-state recruiting pressure and more fullback talk
John Bullock wasn’t heavily recruited
According to Nebraska’s official football media guide, John Bullock had scholarship offers to Augustana and Lindenwood. His height, or lack thereof — he’s 6-foot and 210 pounds — might have kept some major-college coaches away.
At any rate, Bullock chose the walk-on route to Lincoln.
“I knew he could play down there,” said Johnk, who lettered as a Husker fullback from 1989 to 1991. “John is a freak athletically. He had 20-some tackles against Elkhorn South as a senior outside linebacker. He was so good in space. He never missed a tackle.”
Like many student-athletes, Bullock had to adjust to college life.
“He struggled in his first year or so in Lincoln,” Johnk said. “It was probably a matter of some immaturity and going to college and being on your own. That happens to guys, right? But to his credit, he’s matured. He’s figured it out. He stuck it out. He’s a tough-minded kid. He grew from it.
“He used some of those tough times as opportunities for growth.”
Rhule quickly noticed Bullock’s talents. The coach liked his speed.
But Rhule also noticed Bullock might fit better at linebacker.
It appears to be the case, although Bullock has plenty to prove.
Frank Solich says fullbacks are “different breed”
Count former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich among those who like what Rhule is doing with the Huskers’ offense. Yes, this is partially a fullback discussion. Frank loves a good fullback. He was an exceptional fullback himself for the Huskers — a 5-foot-7, 152-pounder.
Using a fullback in an I-formation, as Rhule does at times, creates the sort of mindset that Solich prefers in a football team.
“You become a tough-ass team,” Solich told me Monday. “You come at people. You wear them down. You want to be the best team in the fourth quarter. There’s just something about the fullback — the running game — that’ll set a tone for your players.”
I’ve heard similar sentiments from Rhule.
His teams at Temple were physical and tough-minded, said Solich, who faced those teams as Ohio’s coach.
“I think they’re headed in the right direction with what they’re doing,” Solich said of Rhule’s early days at Nebraska. “It looks like they’ll have a combination of things offensively. I don’t know for sure. Some of the offense will be without a fullback. But there’ll be some offense with a fullback. I think it can fit very well in today’s style of football.”
By the way, Solich (predictably) is a big fan of Rhule having a fullback camp at Nebraska next month.
“I think it’s smart,” Frank said. “Fullbacks are a different breed. Sometimes when you just have everybody at a camp, at all positions, those kind of guys get overlooked. To me, they’re specialists.
“It’s a position that really demands respect from the rest of your team.”
To me, it sounds like a column for next week: Frank taking a deep dive on fullbacks.
It’s awfully nice to have him back in the fold.
Tip your cap to Kirby Smart for landing elite QB
During his introductory news conference at Georgia in late 2015, Kirby Smart told reporters he wanted to use every minute he had toward recruiting.
According to ESPN, Smart then looked down at his watch and said, “As a matter of fact, I’m ready to go right now.”
Make no mistake, the man’s a primo recruiter — savvy, diligent, charismatic.
My heavens, he worked 11 years for Nick Saban.
Dominic Raiola, in our many conversations during his son Dylan Raiola’s recruitment, spoke highly of Georgia and the way it recruited his son. Smart played a lead role (as one might expect). Even so, that part of the equation impressed Dominic. In fact, the day Dominic told me of Smart’s very heavy involvement — it was months ago — I knew Nebraska faced an uphill climb to land the QB.
As this ESPN article points out, Georgia’s program under Smart “is looking more like vintage Alabama than Alabama does right now — physically imposing, stingy on defense and possessing a relentless attitude that’s a reflection of its head coach.”
Yes, tip your cap to Kirby. He would be awfully hard to turn down right now.
In that regard, the timing simply wasn’t right for Nebraska.
Damian Jackson lands in CFL
Make no mistake, Damian Jackson trained hard in hopes of making an NFL roster.
However, the former Husker (2017 to 2021) and Navy SEAL got a nice “W” by landing in the CFL.
He recently signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“He’s going to be a D-end and a long snapper,” says Chris Slatt, who trains Jackson (and others) in Slatt’s south Lincoln workout facility. “I think one thing that hurt him is he had never snapped in a ‘live’ game.”
“Bottom line, I think Canada is a great fit for a 30-year-old guy who literally started playing football six years ago. I’m really proud of him. He made himself into a Division I player and then turned himself into a professional long snapper.”
Amazing story. Good luck to the young man.
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