Scouting Report: Malaki Starks - SAF - Georgia
Sales Pitch: Experienced and versatile safety with a well rounded physical profile. Lacks a true elite trait but has one of the cleanest profiles and highest floors in the entire draft.
*Gold Numbers Indicate NCAA Top-25 for 2024*
*Red Numbers Indicate NCAA Bottom-25 for 2024*
Scouting Report
Malaki Starks was a highly recruited 5-Star coming out of high school in the state of Georgia. He was a state long jump champion in addition to being the #4 overall recruit in the nation in the 2022 class. Starks was an immediate difference maker for the Bulldogs defense, playing over 800 snaps in his freshman year. He would go on to be a 2x All-American and All-SEC player with multiple Jim Thorpe Award Finalist appearances during his three seasons in Athens.
Starks possesses a well rounded physical profile for the safety position. At 6’ 1” 205 lbs., he has solid size to go with an above average athletic skillset. He proved to be extremely versatile during his 41 career starts, aligning at both safety spots in single and two high looks, as well as taking a significant amount of reps in the slot, the latter of which he did at career high rate in 2024. Starks is a strong communicator on the back end of a defense. His value as a communicator allowed the Bulldogs coverage units to be one of the most disciplined in football during his time there. He displays excellent spatial awareness and instincts as a deep and underneath zone defender. He has a strong understanding of how concepts and routes will try to attack him, using his leverage to force receivers towards his help. He rarely gets out of position and is difficult to make bit on double moves in front of him. Starks has the range to play both single and two high looks, but is at his best split to the field side of the formation. He has the long speed to close on routes along the sideline from the hash. He displays top notch ball tracking and body control to make plays on the ball in the air. Despite a small slide in ball production numbers in 2024 he sports an impressive 6 INTs and 14 PBUs for his career. He is also very comfortable getting his head around and disrupting the catch point when in trail technique. Georgia asked Starks to align far more in the slot in 2024 and was tasked with more man coverage than ever. While his overall coverage numbers took a hit, he displayed the ability to match TE’s to all three levels. He also has the long speed and fluidity to carry WR’s vertically down the field. Starks is sound run defender with the size to make an impact in the box or closing from deep. He plays with proper leverage and uses good pursuit angles to spill ball carriers back towards his help. He is also a dependable tackler who brings power behind his pads in the open field and the hole.
Starks is a well rounded athlete but lacks a true difference making trait. He doesn’t have the size to be a full time box safety and his long speed is closer to good than great which limits his ability to be a true center fielder. Starks bump in slot reps in 2024 exposed some deficiencies as a coverage player. He lacks the top end speed or change of direction skills to match WRs consistently in man coverage. Receivers who can attack his cushion in off coverage are able to create separation at the top of crossers and other horizontally breaking routes. Despite his burst and instincts Starks has never been much of a pass rusher during his time at Georgia even when aligned in the box.
Starks profiles best as a free safety in a two high scheme with the versatility to roll back into single high or down into the box if needed. His experience, IQ and well rounded game give him a high floor as a prospect. Starks projects as a Day 1 pick who can start at either safety spot from the jump. While he might not have the most eye popping physical traits he is one of the most complete players in this class at only 21 years old.