Malaki Starks

 OVERVIEW

 Malaki Starks is a versatile and athletic safety with a high ceiling at the next level. His ability to play deep, in the box, or cover the slot makes him a valuable chess piece for any defensive coordinator. Starks' physicality in run support and his knack for making plays on the ball are major pluses. His experience in a top-tier program like Georgia means he's battle-tested and ready for the NFL grind. However, Starks isn't without his flaws. His aggressive nature can lead to being caught out of position, something NFL quarterbacks will look to exploit. He needs to improve his recognition of route combinations and overall field awareness. Additionally, there are moments of hesitancy in his coverage that can be exploited. Projecting Starks' future in the NFL, he has the tools to become a difference-maker in the secondary. His blend of speed, agility, and physicality is ideal for a modern safety. If he can iron out his very limited negatives:

 Starks has Pro Bowl potential. Teams looking for a dynamic and versatile safety will find a lot to like in Starks, making him a potential steal in the draft.

 BACKGROUND

Starks, a standout from Jefferson High School, was a 5-star recruit by both ESPN and 247 Sports. In high school, he excelled as a two-way player, starring as a quarterback and safety, and also shined in track and field. Starks committed to Georgia, where he continued to demonstrate his athletic prowess on the field. As a freshman in 2022, Starks played in 13 games, logging 732 snaps at safety for Georgia. He recorded 47 tackles, 11 assists, 7 stops, 5 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions, with a quarterback rating when targeted of 91.5. In his sophomore year, he played another 13 games, tallying 674 snaps, 45 tackles, 13 assists, 18 stops, 7 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions, improving his quarterback rating when targeted to 73.5. Starks' college career includes Consensus All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors in 2023. He finished the season with 52 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 7 pass breakups. Despite undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason, Starks focused on mentoring his teammates and preparing for the upcoming season. His diverse skill set and strong performance have positioned him as a top prospect for the NFL Draft. Malaki Starks is an elite athlete who excelled as a two-way star in high school before transitioning to safety in college. At Jefferson High, he was a dynamic option quarterback, rushing for 1,537 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior. Starks also demonstrated impressive speed as a top sprinter, posting personal bests of 10.55 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.67 seconds in the 200 meters. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 208 pounds, his athletic profile was among the best in his recruiting class.

 ANALYSIS

  PROS

Impressive length and elite overall athleticism make him a valuable asset in press coverage schemes. Fluid mover with the ability to mirror quick receivers underneath and defend slot targets. Sprinter's speed allows him to cover even the fastest receivers deep Explodes out of his backpedal with exceptional closing speed, showing excellent ball skills. Displays quick feet and loose hips, allowing him to be effective in press coverage. Tracks the ball well, avoiding penalties by getting his head around on time. Physical run defender with short-area explosiveness to impact ball carriers. Versatility to play in the box, slot, or deep safety due to his strength and athleticism. Experience in a high-level college defense provides a strong foundation for NFL play.

 CONS:

 Susceptible to being overly aggressive, which can be exploited by experienced quarterbacks. Needs to improve his understanding of complex route combinations and overall field vision. Hesitancy at times in coverage can limit his range and playmaking ability. Occasional lapses in confidence, impacting his decision-making in coverage. Post-surgery recovery may raise Cons about his durability and readiness.

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HISTORY -- From School Profile

   *** 2024 AFCA, FWWA All-America First Team ***

Career Highs
* 10 tackles vs. Tennessee, 2022; Georgia Tech, 2024
* 2.0 TFL vs. Alabama, 2024
* 1 interception vs. six teams (recent: Clemson, 2024)

2024: AFCA and FWAA All-America First Team honoree...named Second Team All-American by the AP, the Athletic and Walter Camp...AP First Team All-SEC selection...named Coaches Second Team All-SEC...Jim Thorpe Award Finalist...Bednarik Award Semifinalist...has started all 13 games for the Bulldogs this season...credited with a pair of solo stops in Aflac Kickoff Game win against Clemson…grabbed a diving interception and tallied a QB pressure against the Tigers...named Jim Thorpe Award National DB of the Week for his performance against Clemson...tallied a team-high eight tackles, including four solo stops, in the SEC opener win over Kentucky...had eight tackles, including two for a loss of 10 yards against Alabama...tallied six tackles, three solo and three assisted, and a QB hurry in Homecoming game win over Auburn...posted a team-leading seven tackles, all solo stops, and a QB pressure in win over Mississippi State...led the team in tackles with seven stops, including one for a loss of a yard, in win over Texas...credited with four tackles and a pass breakup in win over Florida in Jacksonville, Fla...had six tackles against Ole Miss...had a pair of tackles and a pass breakup in win over Tennessee...credited with four tackles, two solo and two assisted, in win over UMass...notched 10 tackles, including six solo stops, in regular season finale win over Georgia Tech…had a pass breakup against the Yellow Jackets...posted a team-leading eight tackles, seven of which were solo stops, in SEC Championship win over Texas...The Athletic Midseason All-America Second Team and Senior Bowl Midseason All-America Team...named to the AP Preseason All-SEC, Coaches Preseason All-SEC, AP Preseason All-America, Walter Camp Preseason All-America and USA Today Preseason All-America first teams...ESPN Preseason All-America Team...Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee...Sporting News Preseason All-America Second Team...named to Senior Bowl, Jim Thorpe, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Wuerffel Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award watch lists.
2023: First Team All-American by AFCA, AP, CBS, ESPN, FWAA, Sports Illustrated, USA Today and Walter Camp...Second Team by Fox Sports and The Athletic...AP and Coaches All-SEC First Team selection...finalist for Bronko Nagurski Award and Jim Thorpe Award...semifinalist for Bednarik and Jim Thorpe Awards...named to Midseason All-America Team by AP, CBS, ESPN, Sporting News and the Athletic...named to Preseason Media Days All-SEC First Team...Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List selection...selected to AP Preseason All-America First Team...started in every contest at DB…finished the season with 52 tackles, including 31 solo stops…notched three interceptions for 47 combined return yards with seven pass breakups...led the team with eight tackles and a pass breakup in season-opening win over UT Martin...grabbed one of Georgia’s three interceptions in win over Ball State...tallied three pass breakups in conference opener against South Carolina...posted five tackles, including four solo stops, with an interception and return of 21 yards to end Auburn’s final drive of the game in first road win of the season...had a team-high five tackles, including four solo stops, in win over Kentucky...notched four tackles, including three solo stops, in road win over Florida in Jacksonville, Fla...had seven tackles in final regular-season win over Georgia Tech...one of two Bulldogs to post a team-leading eight tackles, including six solo stops, in the SEC Championship game against Alabama...snatched an interception with a 26-yard return and one tackle in the Capital One Orange Bowl win over Florida State.
2022: Finalist for the 2022 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award...First Team Freshman All-America by The Athletic...started at DB in 14 of 15 games...third on team in tackles with 68 total stops...also leads the Bulldogs in pass breakups with seven and has two interceptions...saw action as a reserve DB in season-opening win over No. 11 Oregon...had his first collegiate starting assignment at DB in win over Samford...had another interception in first quarter of win at South Carolina...six tackles and a pass breakup in win over Kent State...two tackles and a pass breakup (near interception) in win over Auburn...five tackles and a pass breakup in win over Florida...team-high 10 tackles and a pass breakup in win over Tennessee...also team-high eight tackles in win at Mississippi State...eight tackles and a pass breakup in win at Kentucky...had a team-high eight total tackles and his first career interception in the game...credited four tackles with a QB hurry in CFP Semifinal Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl win over Ohio State...had one tackle in win over TCU in CFP National Championship Game...named to mid-season Freshman All-America teams by The Athletic, Yahoo and On3.
High School: Jefferson HS, coached by Gene Cathcart…selected to play in 2022 Under Armour All-American Game…247Sports.com five-star prospect…ranked as the #1 athlete prospect nationally, the #2 prospect in Georgia and the #4 prospect nationally…PrepStar Magazine five-star prospect, #1 athlete prospect, #2 prospect in Georgia and #15 prospect nationally…ESPN.com five-star prospect, #1 athlete prospect, #2 prospect in Georgia and #10 prospect nationally…rivals.com four-star prospect, #2 athlete prospect, #5 prospect in Georgia and #44 prospect nationally…DawgPost five-star prospect and #2 prospect in Georgia…named to 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11…helped lead Jefferson to 9-2 record and GHSA Class 4A playoffs in 2021 senior season…finished senior season with Dragons with 13 tackles, 11 solo stops and two interceptions…also completed four passes for 62 yards and rushed for 303 yards and five touchdowns…helped lead Dragons to 14-1 record and GHSA Class 4A state championship game…named to 2020 Georgia All-State Second Team Defense…registered 81 career tackles and nine interceptions during career…also notched 2,384 yards on 259 carries for 34 touchdowns and caught eight passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns in career…also competed for Jefferson in track and field, helping Dragons win GHSA Class 4A state championship in 2019 freshman season…won 4A individual state title in long jump with 23-7 effort…also set personal best marks of 10.55 in 100-meter dash and 24-9 long jump.
Personal: Full name WILLIAM MALAKI STARKS..Intended majors: Sport Management and Business...recipient of the Herbert and Burdelle Mobley Family Scholarship and the Susan & Mark Tomlinson Family Football Scholarship.

2022

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.5	0.0	60.0	0.0	7.0	0.0	37.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
0.0	21.0	42.0	2.0