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The Lockdown Family: How Jamal Bullock Is Developing Elite DBs in North Carolina

IMG_3283by:Trey Scott•07/06/25•

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When evaluating the rise of defensive back talent in Eastern North Carolina, one name keeps showing up behind the scenes — Jamal Bullock.

A longtime high school coach turned premier position-specific trainer, Bullock is the architect of a growing pipeline that’s producing Power 5-ready defensive backs across the state. Through his program — known as The Lockdown Family — he’s developed a reputation for refining technique, sharpening movement, and instilling the mental toughness required to play at the game’s highest levels.

In an era where elite training can change the trajectory of a player’s future, Bullock is quietly building one of the most respected DB training programs in the Southeast.

A Respected Coaching Foundation

Bullock’s coaching career spans 15 years and multiple high schools across North Carolina, including Southern Durham, Webb, Northern Vance, Vance County, Clayton, and currently Southeast Raleigh. His roles have ranged from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator and assistant head coach — but his specialty has never wavered.

“I’ve always been a DB guy,” Bullock said. “It’s what I played. It’s what I study. And it’s where I know I can make the most impact.”

That impact intensified in 2020, when Bullock launched his own training platform. What began as offseason work for his own players during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into a year-round developmental program drawing defensive backs from across the region.

Today, Bullock trains high school standouts, under-the-radar prospects, and Division I talent — all under the same ethos: technical mastery, consistency, and mental discipline.

The Results: A List of Elite DBs

Since launching The Lockdown Family, Bullock has helped mold an impressive roster of athletes who’ve gone on to play at the college level or who he has helped trained at the next level. Many have received national recruiting attention. Some have earned Power 5 offers. And a few are already contributing at programs across the country.

Notable athletes trained by Bullock include:

And that’s just the beginning. The program also includes top high school talents like Cardinal Gibbons trio Skylar Alston, Braylon Peebles, Xavier Hasan, Rolesville’s Marquis Bryant, Southern Durham’s Lance Henderson, Millbrook’s Cario Williams, Jacksonville’s Dominic Williams Jr and many of whom are emerging on the recruiting radar in the 2026 and 2027 classes that all whole major D-1 offers.

Movement Is the Edge

While Bullock is widely recognized as a defensive back trainer, he prefers a broader title — movement specialist.

“Movement is the foundation,” he said. “Whether it’s a corner, a wide receiver, or even a baseball outfielder, understanding how to control and transition through space is what separates good athletes from elite ones.”

In his sessions, Bullock teaches movement with a purpose: clean transitions, efficient footwork, hip fluidity, and reactive speed. The drills are tailored for game application, helping players improve press technique, turn-and-run transitions, blind spot awareness, and zone responsibility — all while simulating collegiate-level tempo.

He often points to a key gap in development across North Carolina’s landscape.

“For years, the West side of the state got the reputation for producing better DBs — not because they had more talent, but because the technique and development piece was more advanced,” Bullock said. “We’re changing that on the East side. And it’s working.”

The Cannon Marshall Case Study

If there’s one athlete who fully embodies The Lockdown Family’s developmental philosophy, it’s Cannon Marshall.

Originally a basketball-first athlete at Rolesville High School, Marshall transitioned to football his sophomore year. Bullock began working with him shortly thereafter, and the results were immediate. Within two years, Marshall emerged as one of the top corners in the state and received a scholarship offer from Rutgers, committing in the Class of 2025.

“He’s my first true Power 4 defensive back that came through the program from start to finish,” Bullock said. “He stayed consistent, he trusted the process, and he got the reward.”

Marshall now becomes a prime example of what’s possible when technical training meets mental buy-in — a combination Bullock stresses to every athlete who walks through his door.

Training Culture Built on Standards, Not Hype

Bullock’s sessions are open to all — but staying in The Lockdown Family requires a different level of commitment.

“It’s an open-door policy,” he said. “But this isn’t a show-up-once-a-month kind of thing. You’ve got to lock in. That’s the standard.”

His training groups include players as young as six years old up to college-level athletes returning home in the offseason. And during football season, Bullock keeps a strict routine — offering Sunday tune-up sessions for in-season players to correct mistakes and refine technique without crossing team boundaries.

Despite coaching full-time himself, Bullock emphasizes that training never interferes with the athletes’ commitments to their high school teams. He doesn’t solicit players, review game film without permission, or interfere with coaching staffs.

“I don’t care if they’re playing for me or against me on Friday nights,” he said. “This isn’t about ego. This is about helping kids get to college.”

A Mission Bigger Than Football

At its core, The Lockdown Family isn’t just about producing college football players — it’s about preparing young men for the next phase of life.

“Some of these kids are under-recruited. Some are doubted. Some are learning how to believe in themselves for the first time,” Bullock said. “So my role goes way beyond footwork. I’m mentoring. I’m guiding. I’m helping them get ready for what’s coming — in football and in life.”

And that guidance is paying off. Bullock has sent multiple athletes to college with full scholarships, helped elevate overlooked prospects into FBS players, and created a ripple effect of DB development that’s inspiring other trainers across the region.

“The East side of the state is coming,” Bullock said. “And we’re going to keep building.”

Picture after an intense training session with the Lockdown Family