Corey Bullock Is This Year’s Ravens-Maryland Underdog Story

Corey Bullock experienced an emotional moment when announced as a starter in the Ravens' preseason opener, describing it as a "holy crap moment" that required him to compose himself. The Maryland native, from Accokeek and a product of Gwynn Park High School and the University of Maryland, is in his second training camp with his childhood favorite team, aiming to secure a spot on the 53-man roster and continue a recent trend of local underdog success stories with the Ravens.

Bullock, undrafted last year, spent his rookie season on the practice squad but now finds himself leading the competition to back up Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum after starting the preseason opener. His rise is notable given the Ravens drafted five offensive linemen in the past two years. Teammates and coaches have been impressed by his dedication and improvement, with Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken praising his work ethic and development, noting Bullock treated the practice squad as an opportunity to grow rather than just fulfill duties.

Bullock excelled in last year’s preseason as the Ravens' highest-graded offensive lineman per Pro Football Focus (PFF) and followed up with a strong performance in this year’s opener, showcasing mobility, strength, and command. His proficiency at center is particularly impressive as it marks his third position: he began as a high school defensive end, switched to offensive tackle in college (earning All-Big Ten honorable mention and PFF’s top conference pass-blocking grade at Maryland), and only dedicated himself to center this offseason.

To master the position, Bullock trained intensively at LeCharles Bentley’s "LB O-Line Performance" in Arizona shortly after the Ravens’ season ended, focusing on snap accuracy and technique. He emphasized versatility as key to his longevity. Bullock also credits learning from Linderbaum as tremendously helpful and has earned the Pro Bowler’s trust; Linderbaum publicly endorsed Bullock’s physicality, toughness, intelligence, and readiness to play at a high level if needed.

Despite growing up with a Steelers-fan father and a Commanders-fan mother, Bullock remained a devoted Ravens fan inspired by Ray Lewis, making Lewis’s recent visit to training camp an especially meaningful moment in his journey.