Latest news with #MalakiStarks
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton has high praise for Georgia rookie
The 2025 NFL season is just around the corner and training camp is here, Teams are realizing what they have in their rookies. One rookie that has been standing out is Baltimore Ravens rookie Malaki Starks. His teammate All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton had some very encouraging words for the rookie and can bring some excitement to fans. "He's super-talented. I honestly think he's miles ahead of where I was at that point," Hamilton said. "Once it all clicks for him, he's going to be one of the best in the league." Starks played three seasons for the Georgia Bulldogs, recording 197 total tackles, 17 pass deflections, and six interceptions in his collegiate career. In the 2024 season, he had 77 total tackles, four for loss, and one interception. He was an All-American in 2023. The Ravens have a secondary of Marlon Humphrey, Jaire Alexander, Nate Wiggins, Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks, which on paper seems like the best secondary in the league in terms of talent. However, last season the Ravens allowed the second-most passing yards in the NFL, so there's a reason why Baltimore invested a first-round pick in Starks. Follow UGAWire on Instagram or Threads!
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Baltimore Raven's first-round pick Malaki Starks amazed at Kyle Hamilton's football IQ
During the NFL draft, the Baltimore Ravens used its first-round pick on Georgia safety Malaki Starks, with the intention for pairing him up with former Notre Dame superstar Kyle Hamilton to make an elite duo. While the rookie hasn't been with the team long, he already knows that he's going to be playing alongside one of the best in the NFL. When asked about his new teammate, he gave a glowing review of Hamilton. 'There's levels, and Kyle is on that top level… He's so smart,' said Starks to the media on Friday. We are seeing it once again, that Hamilton isn't just a great football player, but a leader inside the locker room. His professional career is off to an amazing start, as he's made the Pro Bowl twice, was a First-team All-Pro in 2023, and a Second-team All-Pro in 2024. The duo could be roaming the Raven's secondary for years to come, and it could turn out to be one of the best set of safeties in the NFL. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen
CBS News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Baltimore Ravens first-round draft pick Malaki Starks reflects as training camp gets underway
Baltimore Ravens first-round draft pick Malaki Starks is only a few training camp practices into his NFL career, but the rookie has already made an impression on his coaches and teammates. He came in with high expectations, and he is working to earn respect in training camp. Starks, the 27th overall pick in the NFL draft, has three training camp practices under his belt, but he is already turning heads. "Just because I was a first-rounder doesn't mean my spot is guaranteed," Starks said. Baltimore Head Coach John Harbaugh shared his first impression of the rookie. "So far, he is playing at a really high level," Harbaugh said. "He has passed every test, but there are more tests to come." Starks is expected to be an immediate contributor on a defense that was one of the best in the league last season. As he continues to adjust to the NFL, he is leaning on veterans like Kyle Hamilton to show him the way. "He's so smart," Starks said. "You think you know football until you get around people who know football, then you realize you don't know that much about football. Being able to learn from him, I think, has been huge." Starks' eagerness to learn stands out to Hamilton, who said Starks is miles ahead of where he was at this point as a rookie. "I think he knows the playbook more than I did. He's confident out there," Hamilton said. "He's talking, and he's just so willing to learn and be a sponge. It's very admirable for somebody his age." As Starks continues to grow through training camp and adjusts to the defensive system, he is most comfortable learning, staying curious and asking questions. "There's a lot of expectations. There's a lot of standards that come with that, but I've got to prove myself worthy of it and earn the respect of my teammates and go out there day in and day out and give it my best," Starks said.
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Sights and sounds from Day 1 of Baltimore Ravens training camp practice
We're looking at sights and sounds from Day 1 of Baltimore Ravens training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center After weeks of waiting, fans were camped out for entry into the Under Armour Performance practice fields for Day 1 of Ravens training camp. Baltimore enters 2025 with Super Bowl aspirations and an elite player at just about every key position. A stout 11-man draft class will make its on-field debut, and it'll provide the perfect opportunity for Malaki Starks and Mike Green to add immediate depth and versatility to Zach Orr's revamped and elite defensive unit. That group includes Jaire Alexander, one of the two dynamic newcomers to the roster, along with DeAndre Hopkins on offense. With the preseason now underway, we're looking at early sights and sounds from Day 1 of practice.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Two Ravens earn some early and deserved Defensive Rookie of the Year buzz
Nothing compares to this great game of football. Nothing... Have you ever attended a college football tailgate in the South? Have you ever lent an ear to the constant debates that surround the Baltimore Ravens during the offseason? Let's clear something up and do so once and for all. The next time we mention devoted and loyal NFL fan bases, Baltimore's contingent had better be at the top of the list. No exceptions will be tolerated. The Flock won't be ignoring a single second of the coming campaign. Advertisement Training camp begins, and "Look and see," the buzz has already started. Everything is on the table from preseason and the 17-game regular season to a possible Super Bowl run and postseason honors. Two Ravens crack the list of early Defensive Rookie of the Year favorites While it's much too early to hand out postseason awards, it's almost impossible to convince everyone that the conversation isn't, at least, worth starting. recently took it upon itself to shine a spotlight on ten exciting rookies and begin a conversation. Dan Parr is a senior editor and draft strategist. His top 10 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates for the 2025 regular season include two Ravens. Advertisement Malaki Starks cracks the list at number eight. As Parr mentions, "we have not seen a safety win DROY since 1990", but he's also correct in his take that "it's hard not to be enamored with the table that's been set for this Ravens rookie." Here's more: "With Ar'Darius Washington suffering an Achilles tear in May, there's no one threatening to challenge Starks for snaps, and head coach John Harbaugh has expressed confidence that the 21-year-old is up to the challenge. He's joining what figures to be one of the league's stoutest defenses, with Pro Bowl talent at all three levels." That brings us to the other Raven mentioned, fellow rookie Mike Green. The edge rusher earned first-round grades for a while but saw his draft stock fall amid the dreaded 'character concerns'. Green is only preceded on the list by Abdul Carter (New York Giants), Jahdae Barron (Denver Broncos), and Jalon Walker (Atlanta Falcons). Parr's take makes it hard not to breathe in some more of that early optimism. "Winning DROY has proven extremely elusive for players picked outside of Round 1. DeMeco Ryans and Shaquille Leonard, both linebackers selected early in Round 2, are the only guys who have accomplished the feat in the last 20 years. Green is somewhat of a unique case, though, as he was widely considered a top-20 talent but fell all the way to Baltimore late in Round 2. Green has denied any wrongdoing, and Ravens GM Eric DeCosta told reporters the franchise was comfortable with Green after doing its due diligence in investigating the allegations. Advertisement On the field, Green has demonstrated the ability to produce at an elite rate. He led the FBS with 17 sacks last season and ranked second with 22.5 tackles for loss. Now he joins perhaps the most talented defense in the league and could earn a designated pass rusher role in which that production carries over to the next level. Edge rushers of late have dominated DROY, and Green is in an enviable situation." Starks and Green join what is already a loaded Ravens roster. Might they be two of the final pieces that list Baltimore over the hump to their third Lombardi Trophy? Time will tell, but why not the Ravens? Why not now? This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens rookies spark early buzz in an early Defensive ROY conversation
