Melvin Bullitt
Encyclopedia
Melvin Terry Bullitt is an American football
defensive back
for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts
.
in Garland, Texas
, where he was team MVP as a senior after totaling 78 tackles (43 solo), five pass deflections, and three interceptions. He also caught 7 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown.
Bullitt committed to Texas A&M at the end of his junior year.
, Bullitt played in 8 games and produced 13 tackles. As a sophomore, he played in 12 games, finishing with 29 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble. He started 10 games as a junior and compiled 59 tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. In the 2006 season, as a senior outside linebacker, he started in all 13 games had 84 tackles (26 solo), one interception, one fumble recovery, and eight pass deflections. After the season, he was named to the 2006 AT&T All-Big 12 Football First Team. He finished his college career with 183 tackles (80 solo), 10.5 tackles for losses, and four interceptions.
Bullitt changed positions every season. He began playing at corner, then free safety, then strong safety, and finally at outside linebacker.
as an undrafted free agent.
He started in the Colts’ dime package in a 33-14 week 5 victory over Tampa Bay
and also saw action on defense in week 9 against New England
as a replacement for injured Pro Bowl
safety Bob Sanders
. He had his most extensive playing time in week 17 against Tennessee
, when he entered the game in the second half after the Colts rested starters on both sides of the ball. Despite only playing the second half, he made a team-high 10 tackles.
at the Indianapolis 22, with 42 seconds remaining in the game. On November 9, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
attempted to throw a touchdown pass into the end zone on the final play, but Bullitt intercepted the pass, preventing a Steelers comeback and sealing the 24–20 Colts win. The third game-saver occurred in the second matchup against the Texans on November 16, when Bullitt intercepted Rosenfels' pass at the Colts 35, with 32 seconds left in the game. In the same game, however, he missed a tackle near the line of scrimmage on running back Steve Slaton
, who ran 71 yards for a touchdown. The Colts still won 33–27. Overall, Bullitt started nine games during the season, recording 42 solo tackles and four interceptions.
After the season, Bullitt received recognition from USA Today
, which listed him on its annual "All-Joe" team
.
Regarding his then-new role as a starter, Bullitt stated: "You always want to be a starter. That’s why you come to the NFL. You don’t want to come in and be a backup. You have to learn and you have to wait your time. You have to be patient, because anytime, an opportunity may come. Mine came this year, and I just wanted to go out and do the best I can and show people in the league I can play, too."
by an ESPN.com
blogger; seven other players representing each division of the league were named one as well. The players were picked based on their performances in the 2008 season.
His teammates elected him as one of the two 2009 special teams captains.
He started the season as a starter replacing the injured Bob Sanders.
He was named the "Unsung Hero of the Week" for Week 3 by USA Today for his performance against the Arizona Cardinals. Bullitt forced a fumble and also prevented an airborne player from scoring a touchdown at the goal line.
Bullitt also made a crucial fourth down stop in the 35–34 victory over the New England Patriots.
For the second straight year, Bullitt made USA Today
's "All-Joe" team
.
Three weeks into the 2011 season, Bullitt was placed on injured reserve.
previously wore the same number for six seasons from 2001–2006 before playing the 2007 season for the Oakland Raiders
. Once Rhodes returned to the Colts prior to the 2008 season, he tried to get the number back and even offered Bullitt serious money for it, but to no avail.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
Early years
Bullitt starred at Naaman Forest High SchoolNaaman Forest High School
Naaman Forest High School is a public secondary school located in Garland, Texas . Like most Texas high schools, Naaman Forest enrolls students in grades 9-12...
in Garland, Texas
Garland, Texas
-Climate:* The average warmest month is July.* The highest recorded temperature was in 2000.* On average, the coolest month is January.* The lowest recorded temperature was in 1989.* The maximum average precipitation occurs in May....
, where he was team MVP as a senior after totaling 78 tackles (43 solo), five pass deflections, and three interceptions. He also caught 7 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown.
Bullitt committed to Texas A&M at the end of his junior year.
College career
As a freshman at Texas A&MTexas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
, Bullitt played in 8 games and produced 13 tackles. As a sophomore, he played in 12 games, finishing with 29 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble. He started 10 games as a junior and compiled 59 tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. In the 2006 season, as a senior outside linebacker, he started in all 13 games had 84 tackles (26 solo), one interception, one fumble recovery, and eight pass deflections. After the season, he was named to the 2006 AT&T All-Big 12 Football First Team. He finished his college career with 183 tackles (80 solo), 10.5 tackles for losses, and four interceptions.
Bullitt changed positions every season. He began playing at corner, then free safety, then strong safety, and finally at outside linebacker.
2007 season
He signed with the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
as an undrafted free agent.
He started in the Colts’ dime package in a 33-14 week 5 victory over Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and also saw action on defense in week 9 against New England
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
as a replacement for injured Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
safety Bob Sanders
Bob Sanders
Demond "Bob" Sanders is a professional American football safety who is currently on the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League. Sanders was drafted in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts...
. He had his most extensive playing time in week 17 against Tennessee
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, when he entered the game in the second half after the Colts rested starters on both sides of the ball. Despite only playing the second half, he made a team-high 10 tackles.
2008 season
During the 2008 season, Bullitt made three game-saving interceptions to seal victories for the Colts. In the 31–27 comeback win over the Texans on October 5, he intercepted a pass by quarterback Sage RosenfelsSage Rosenfels
Sage Rosenfels is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Iowa State before he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played with the Miami Dolphins from 2002–2005, the Houston Texans from...
at the Indianapolis 22, with 42 seconds remaining in the game. On November 9, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
attempted to throw a touchdown pass into the end zone on the final play, but Bullitt intercepted the pass, preventing a Steelers comeback and sealing the 24–20 Colts win. The third game-saver occurred in the second matchup against the Texans on November 16, when Bullitt intercepted Rosenfels' pass at the Colts 35, with 32 seconds left in the game. In the same game, however, he missed a tackle near the line of scrimmage on running back Steve Slaton
Steve Slaton
Steve Slaton is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, who ran 71 yards for a touchdown. The Colts still won 33–27. Overall, Bullitt started nine games during the season, recording 42 solo tackles and four interceptions.
After the season, Bullitt received recognition from USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, which listed him on its annual "All-Joe" team
USA Today All-Joe Team
The USA Today All-Joe team is an annual selection of National Football League players and coaches deemed hard workers and over-achievers that may be overlooked by the biased media...
.
Regarding his then-new role as a starter, Bullitt stated: "You always want to be a starter. That’s why you come to the NFL. You don’t want to come in and be a backup. You have to learn and you have to wait your time. You have to be patient, because anytime, an opportunity may come. Mine came this year, and I just wanted to go out and do the best I can and show people in the league I can play, too."
2009 season
In January 2009, Bullitt was named the "emerging star" of the AFC SouthAFC South
The AFC South is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. It was created before the 2002 season when the league realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams...
by an ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
blogger; seven other players representing each division of the league were named one as well. The players were picked based on their performances in the 2008 season.
His teammates elected him as one of the two 2009 special teams captains.
He started the season as a starter replacing the injured Bob Sanders.
He was named the "Unsung Hero of the Week" for Week 3 by USA Today for his performance against the Arizona Cardinals. Bullitt forced a fumble and also prevented an airborne player from scoring a touchdown at the goal line.
Bullitt also made a crucial fourth down stop in the 35–34 victory over the New England Patriots.
For the second straight year, Bullitt made USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
's "All-Joe" team
USA Today All-Joe Team
The USA Today All-Joe team is an annual selection of National Football League players and coaches deemed hard workers and over-achievers that may be overlooked by the biased media...
.
2010–2011 seasons
In October 2010, Bullitt was placed on injured reserve and missed the rest of the season.Three weeks into the 2011 season, Bullitt was placed on injured reserve.
Personal
He wears the No. 33 in honor of his father, Jerry Bullitt, who wore the number as a linebacker at Texas A&M. When asked about his number, Bullitt stated: "I kind of feel like when I'm wearing (No. 33), a piece of my dad is with me when I'm on the field." Fellow teammate Dominic RhodesDominic Rhodes
Dominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
previously wore the same number for six seasons from 2001–2006 before playing the 2007 season for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Once Rhodes returned to the Colts prior to the 2008 season, he tried to get the number back and even offered Bullitt serious money for it, but to no avail.