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Malaki Starks scored the best of both worlds on draft night.
Of course, everyone wants to be an early option, but it usually leads to landing in a team of low standards. While Starks isn't the top 20 draft pick, he still hears his name in the first round, now he calls it the new home of Super Bowl contenders.
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will join forces with Georgia Bulldogs Safety Malaki Starks after the Baltimore Ravens were selected as the 27th pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. (Kirby Lee-Imagn image)
The defensive back was selected by the Baltimore Ravens and won his 27th draft pick late last month, where he competed in the AFC championship two seasons ago. They've been close to returning in the past season.
As long as Baltimore has MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, the numbers this year will be similar to Baltimore.
The skills differences from college to the NFL need no explanation, but Starks said he was worried about another issue in his leap to pros.
Starks told Fox News numbers, “There are a lot of rules that are very different from college.” “Size, I’m still used to the barriers to elongation. I spent a while walking my own steps in practice because I was programmed to go somewhere. Just really releasing all the rules, dimensions, things like that.”
Georgia Bulldog #24's Jalon Walker and Malaki Starks celebrated a big stop at the game between Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Athens, Georgia on November 29, 2024. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Giants rookie Abdul Carter in Lawrence Taylor, Phil Simms
However, Starks has “a good group of elites” to learn from.
Starks has become part of the perennial winner. He spent college in Georgia. Prior to the draft, he participated in the laundry game with Spice Adams and Draftee Matthew Golden while working with Tides.
Starks joked, "We did this, you had laundry on your head and had to balance it and go back and forth. Matthew couldn't do it. I had to wipe it on his face."
"People think Prep starts with the venue, but it actually starts with the laundry room. When you look good, you feel good."
Given his team’s expectations, maybe Starks might add to the stress. But, as a bulldog that has been instilled in him.
The Baltimore Ravens were selected as the 27th pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft after Malaki Starks spoke at a press conference. (Kirby Lee-Imagn image)
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"This is something I've been used to since I've been to the University of Georgia. They're always their first Natty, so coming in and filling up those shoes is the standard for the organization to own and run the business," he said. "I'm so happy to be in this organization and learn from many older people, and the meaning of playing like a crow."
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