Although draft reports are always leaned towards the positive end, I can finish my report by saying Starks overachieved all expectations… and by a mile.
Malaki is one of my favorite prospects in the entire class and deserves high praise. The former 5-star recruit showed exactly why he was rated so highly in the last 2 years at UGA. Becoming an All-American and All-SEC player gave Malaki the boxes needed to sneak into round 1 as a safety.
The stud safety has 39 tackles this year to go along with an INT but shows elite coverage and excellent versatility.
PLAYER INFO
Name: Malaki Starks
Jersey #: 24
Position: Safety
School: Georgia
Class: Junior
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 205 lbs
Malaki Starks’ Strengths
Your prototypical safety size. Being above 6 feet with length makes you ultra valuable as a safety at the next level. Starks shows that which can help with range and matchups.
Amazing slot versatility. He has elite agility for his build which can be a star trait for scouts at the NFL level to match up on WR3s and travel in man coverage.
Very high IQ for a guy who plays multiple positions. Always seems to be leading the UGA secondary whether in the slot, single high, or in quarter coverage.
Malaki Starks’ Weaknesses
Because he is so unlikely to make mistakes, sometimes he can be a second late on outs and corners in preparation for double moves.
Quick to man up in scramble drill, leaving open zones if pass rush does not get home.
Draft Projection
Even the weaknesses for Starks are long looked for, so the only thing truly holding back his stock is position of value. He is a first-round lock in my eyes, and with guys succeeding at the dual threat S/CB role, he should find his way in the top 20.
A perfect fit for Malaki would be a team like the Jets who have good CB play and struggle in S depth. He can play box, slot, or single high and solidify a defense that is up and coming. My NFL comparison for him is Brian Branch.
