Raven Country

Malaki Starks Fired Up to Join Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens made former Georgia safety Malaki Starks' NFL dreams a reality.
Jon Alfano|
Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Malaki Starks on the field against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Malaki Starks on the field against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

In this story:

Baltimore Ravens

For many NFL players, the feeling of walking across the stage on draft night is unlike anything they've experienced until that point. It certainly was for new Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks.

The Ravens selected Starks at No. 27 overall in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, but even long before that, it seemed like a match made in heaven. He was one of the most popular picks for Baltimore in mock drafts, he fills a major need for the team, and he's a strong character guy who can become a leader in the locker room before long.

The Ravens are very excited to have Starks, and the feeling is clearly mutual. The former first-team All-American was visibly fired up in his interview immediately after walking across the stage.

"It's been a long week, and just being able to kind of meet him [NFL commissioner Roger Goodell] and just kind of watch him since I was a kid and be up there with him," Starks told ESPN. "I've been waiting for a long time back there and I'm ready to go to work."

Starks joins a secondary loaded with first-round talent, as safety Kyle Hamilton and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins are all former Day 1 picks. He should be an immediate contributor alongside Hamilton and Ar'Darius Washington, and seems to be a tremendous fit for Zach Orr's defense.

If all goes according to plan, this will be only the start of a long and productive career in Baltimore.

"As we look back at our very best players, they are wired a certain way," general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters after the draft. "Throughout the process, Malaki is a guy who passed every single test."

Make sure you bookmark Baltimore Ravens On SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Published
Jon Alfano
JON ALFANO

Jon is a lead writer for Baltimore Ravens On SI and contributes to other sites around the network as well. The Tampa native previously worked with sites such as ClutchPoints and GiveMeSport and earned his journalism degree at the University of Central Florida.

Home/News