5-Star ATH Malaki Starks Picks the Georgia Bulldogs over Clemson & Alabama
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs picked up one of the top overall prospects in the country - 5-star Jefferson ATH Malaki Starks.
The playmaker picked the Bulldogs over Clemson and Alabama, giving Kirby Smart and his staff another impressive in-state commitment.
So why did Starks pick Georgia?
@dawgpost 5-star Malaki Starks Picks the Georgia Bulldogs @footballuga #dawgsontop #uga
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“I felt like like a priority at Georgia,” Starks told Dawg Post. “It felt like family every time I spoke with someone at Georgia. I didn’t feel like just another recruit when I went there. I felt like I belonged there.”
That’s what it all came down to - family.
LEARN MORE AT DAWG POST: 5-star Malaki Starks Chooses Georgia: What It Means
“Starks is as gifted of an athlete as you’ll find across the country,” Dawg Post recruiting analyst Matt DeBary said. “He’s dangerous with the ball in his hands and is always capable of returning an interception back for a touchdown. He covers a ton of ground on defense and has natural leadership qualities.”
His familiarity with the Georgia program was also key in his decision. While he does have family ties to Clemson, Starks admitted to Dawg Post multiple times that he has never taken a visit there. He’s been to Athens plenty of times and was in attendance for UGA’s big 2019 win over No. 9 Notre Dame. It’s clear the effects of that game left a lasting impression on prospects in the 2022 class and beyond.
The relentless effort from the entire Georgia staff also payed off in the end. Starks told Dawg Post that he was hearing from just about every Georgia coach throughout his recruitment, not just one particular assistant.
There aren’t many prospects across the country who can move like Starks can at 6-foot-2 205-pounds. He’s explosive with the ball in his hands, but he’ll play defensive back in Athens. He’s a natural leader in the back end, he has great ball skills, and he knows how to come down and help against the run as well.
Overall, Starks is an excellent overall athlete who should fit right in to Georgia’s secondary. He becomes Georgia’s eigth commitment in the 2022 class and the seventh in-state commitment.
“Starks will push for playing time the second he gets on campus due to his SEC-ready size, ball skills and overall athleticism,” DeBary added. “If he develops in Kirby Smart’s defensive backfield over the next three years, Starks has the chance to be a three-and-out type of player for the Bulldogs.”
Dawg Post ranks Starks as the No. 2 overall prospect in Georgia. He’s also ranked as the No. 29 overall prospect in the country and the fourth-ranked ATH in the country.
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