When Corey Bullock heard his name called at M&T Bank Stadium as a starter in last week's preseason opener, he was trying not to freak out.
"That was a holy crap moment," Bullock said. "I had to take a deep breath before I even ran out the tunnel."
Bullock hails from Accokeek, Md., in southern Prince George's County and went to Gwynn Park High School. After starting his college career at North Carolina Central, he transferred to the University of Maryland for his final two seasons.
Now he's in his second training camp playing for his favorite childhood team, trying to land a coveted spot on the 53-man roster and giving himself a darn good shot to become the latest Ravens-Maryland feel-good underdog story.
Last year, Maryland native and Terp Beau Brade made the 53-man roster. The year before, it was the son of a former Ravens Super Bowl winner, Keaton Mitchell, and Baltimore product Malik Hamm. Given that he started the preseason opener, Bullock seems to be at the top of the pack in the competition to be the Ravens' backup center behind two-time Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum.
If Bullock makes the 53-man roster, it would be an extraordinary jump. Undrafted, Bullock spent all of his rookie season on the practice squad. He has a lot of competition in this year's training camp, considering the Ravens have drafted five offensive linemen in the past two years. But Bullock has thoroughly impressed his teammates and coaches this summer.
"He's done a great job," Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken said this week. "When a player makes the practice squad, you try to elaborate to them that this is a one-year opportunity, maybe more, but you're here to help us practice, but also to develop. Don't take it as just, 'Hey, I go out there and read a card, and I show up at the building.' He didn't do that. He worked every day and got better every day.
"\[Offensive Line\] Coach \[George\] Warhop has done a great job with him. He's a very conscientious young man, and he's playing at a really high level right now. I'm excited for him and for us."
In last year's preseason, Bullock was the Ravens' highest-graded offensive lineman via Pro Football Focus (PFF). He followed that up with another strong performance in the Ravens' preseason opener, showing good mobility, strength, and command of the offensive line and his duties.