Latest news with #CollegeFootballPlayoffNationalChampion
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Malaki Starks' response to a 5am film text says it all about his mental makeup
The only thing better than having an elite talent at the safety position is potentially having two of them. That's the situation the Baltimore Ravens are in. Kyle Hamilton enters year four at football's highest level. He has already established himself as one of the best players at his position, and this past April, he was given his partner in crime. Former Georgia Bulldogs star Malaki Starks was the 27th player taken during the most recent NFL Draft. His resume at the collegiate level was the stuff of legend: Freshman All-American (2022), College Football Playoff National Champion (2022), 2023 Consensus All-American, 2024 First-team All-American, two-time First-Team All-SEC nod. If all of that translates to the professional level, the Ravens are on to something. Advertisement Starks is so talented that one can make the argument that bad coaching would be the only thing to prevent a supernova elevation. He won't have that issue as part of the Ravens. John Harbaugh enters year 18 at the helm. Baltimore is led on defense by Zach Orr, and the secondary is led by a familiar face who recently came home after sitting out of coaching for four seasons. Chuck Pagano wins Malaki Starks over The last time we saw Chuck Pagano on an NFL sideline, he was the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator. The last time Chuck was in Baltimore, he led the Ravens' secondary for three seasons (2008-10) before becoming the defensive coordinator in 2011. Chuck has already won over his young group. His rookie safety recently spoke with media members and thanked his position coach for a 5 am text message, stating, "That's how I want to be coached." We shouldn't be surprised. Starks cut his teeth under Kirby Smart and Will Muschamp at UGA. Long story short, he's no stranger to being coached hard. Advertisement The rookie is off to a good start by catching the eye of his position coach. Chuck knows what it takes to be great in this league, having coached Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and Terrell Suggs. He has certainly seen some talent come through the Ravens locker room, and now he has an opportunity to reach and mold Hamilton, Starks, Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, and Chidobe Awuzie. This is a special unit. Starks couldn't have landed in a better situation. This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Chuck Pagano wins Malaki Starks over with an early morning text
USA Today
10-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Malaki Starks' response to a 5am film text says it all about his mental makeup
Malaki Starks' response to a 5am film text says it all about his mental makeup Malaki Starks welcomed and appreciated a 5am coaching text from Chuck Pagano. The only thing better than having an elite talent at the safety position is potentially having two of them. That's the situation the Baltimore Ravens are in. Kyle Hamilton enters year four at football's highest level. He has already established himself as one of the best players at his position, and this past April, he was given his partner in crime. Former Georgia Bulldogs star Malaki Starks was the 27th player taken during the most recent NFL Draft. His resume at the collegiate level was the stuff of legend: Freshman All-American (2022), College Football Playoff National Champion (2022), 2023 Consensus All-American, 2024 First-team All-American, two-time First-Team All-SEC nod. If all of that translates to the professional level, the Ravens are on to something. Starks is so talented that one can make the argument that bad coaching would be the only thing to prevent a supernova elevation. He won't have that issue as part of the Ravens. John Harbaugh enters year 18 at the helm. Baltimore is led on defense by Zach Orr, and the secondary is led by a familiar face who recently came home after sitting out of coaching for four seasons. Chuck Pagano wins Malaki Starks over The last time we saw Chuck Pagano on an NFL sideline, he was the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator. The last time Chuck was in Baltimore, he led the Ravens' secondary for three seasons (2008-10) before becoming the defensive coordinator in 2011. Chuck has already won over his young group. His rookie safety recently spoke with media members and thanked his position coach for a 5 am text message, stating, "That's how I want to be coached." We shouldn't be surprised. Starks cut his teeth under Kirby Smart and Will Muschamp at UGA. Long story short, he's no stranger to being coached hard. The rookie is off to a good start by catching the eye of his position coach. Chuck knows what it takes to be great in this league, having coached Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and Terrell Suggs. He has certainly seen some talent come through the Ravens locker room, and now he has an opportunity to reach and mold Hamilton, Starks, Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, and Chidobe Awuzie. This is a special unit. Starks couldn't have landed in a better situation.
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens DC Zach Orr offers A1 critique of their new safety tandem
Ravens DC Zach Orr offers A1 critique of their new safety tandem Zach Orr sees something special brewing in the Ravens starting safety tandem. Pay close attention to the backend of the Baltimore Ravens' defense as mandatory minicamp and training camp ensue. How's that for stating the obvious, right? Several OTA practices have already given us so much to talk about. Rashod Bateman is set to enter another tax bracket after signing an extension. Ar'Darius Washington is in a contract season, but he is unfortunately injured. That has seemingly opened the door for the nearly-forgotten Jalyn Armour-Davis, who has since gotten some snaps and worked at the safety position. For the Ravens to take another step in the right direction and get back to the AFC Championship Game, the backend of their defense will need to take a few steps of their own. We know there isn't much to worry about with Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton. The latter has missed a few OTA sessions, but there's a lot of optimism in the tandem he will form with a newly-acquired and highly-touted rookie. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr has a ton of faith in his starting safety duo. The first three seasons of Kyle Hamilton's career were good enough to inspire the potential envy of NFL stars who are five years his senior. He earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association's All-Rookie Team in 2022. He has only gotten better since then. A member of the past two Pro Bowl rosters, he earned a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2023 before being named a Second-Teamer in 2024. One star alone, however, does not an elite safety tandem make, so Baltimore found an answer and an upgrade during the first round of this past April's draft in Malaki Starks. Saying defense coordinator Zach Orr is excited would be a massive understatement. This past week, he expressed his expectation for Hamilton and Starks as a duo. The NFL is a long way from college football in terms of level of competition, but Starks looks like a sure thing. Baltimore is hoping his skill set translates to the highest level of football. During his time in Athens with the Georgia Bulldogs, he was named a Freshman All-American and became a College Football Playoff National Champion. He was a Consensus All-American in 2023, a First-team All-American in 2024, and has two First-Team All-SEC (2023, 2024) to show for his trouble. He's used to playing in big games. He's certain to play in several this season, and fortunately for him, though the pressure to perform will come quickly, he doesn't have to do everything on his own.
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cornerback battle in Philadelphia could be one of the Eagles' top offseason stories
Cornerback battle in Philadelphia could be one of the Eagles' top offseason stories The Kelee Ringo vs. Adoree' Jackson cornerback competition in Philadelphia may be one of the premier training camp battles this summer One can only imagine what's going on in the minds of the fringe players and the Philadelphia Eagles on the back-half of the depth chart. Much of the roster is set. It feels like most of the starting positions are too, so many of the men on the 90-man training camp roster have to believe their days are numbered. If they don't, they could be under the impression they're auditioning for the practice squad. Then again, there are 31 other franchises. They could embrace an opportunity to play elsewhere. There are, however, two starting spots that are still open, one on each side of the ball. One is at right guard. The other is the starting outside cornerback position on the opposite side of the formation from Quinyon Mitchell. Kelee Ringo and Adoree Jackson figure to duke it out in what should be must-see television. Time has flown, and though he has two years remaining on his rookie deal, this feels like 'do or die' time for Kelee Ringo. He's one of the Philly Dawgs, a two-time College Football Playoff National Champion (2021, 2022) who has now won a Super Bowl after just two seasons at the professional level. Adoree Jackson is one of the new faces. The Birds acquired him on March 13. His deal expires after a single season and will pay him $5 million. Mitchell will partner with the winner, presumably. Cooper DeJean mans the slot... we think... Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio stated, after the second day of OTAs, that "I really like him as the nickel", but he's been given a workload just about everywhere. Coop also took some reps at all three cornerback spots on Day 2. He also took snaps at safety on Wednesday, but it's only the end of May. If you remember, James Bradberry took snaps at the safety position, too. So, that places the spotlight back on Jackson and Ringo. They're the best cornerbacks on the Eagles' roster, not named Mitchell or DeJean, but there are bodies there. Mac McWilliams is a member of Philadelphia's 2025 draft class, but he feels like a backup slot cornerback based on his frame and physique. Eli Ricks, Parry Nickerson, Tariq Castro-Fields, B.J. Mayes, A.J. Woods, and Brandon Jackson round out the remainder of the preseason cornerback depth chart. The theories are that Ringo hasn't hit his ceiling yet, and Jackson's best years may be in his rearview mirror. This is the classic battle of youth vs. experience. It's a strange dichotomy in football. Allies are sometimes the competition. Early theories suggest that Jackson may have the early edge, but the winner of this competition will be better for it. Iron sharoens iron, and the goal is to reach and win another Super Bowl. Jackson and Ringo's efforts are essential cogs in a much larger machine. So, as the summer wears on, place those bets. Enjoy the show—the friendly rivalry featuring Kelee and Adoree figures to be must-see television for the best three months.
