University of Georgia Athletics
Starks Strives To Make An Impact Off The Field
October 18, 2024 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Malaki Starks doesn't just give back because community service makes for good press and photo opportunities for Instagram. The Georgia junior knows first-hand the impact helping others can have. He might not be an All-American safety without the efforts and generosity of others.
Last month, Starks was named to the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team — one of 11 players in the FBS selected based on their community service. When you've been where Starks has been, in a family at one point dealing with homelessness but never hopelessness, helping hands can be more like lifelines.
"I think it started when I was little. Growing up, you saw people who were giving back who didn't have to, and ... I was like, Man, I want that. Like, as I got older, I saw the impact that it had on people, and then as I got into it, I realized the impact that it had on me, as well," said Starks, from Jefferson, Ga., about 20 miles outside Athens.
"I think the biggest thing growing up, my parents always taught me that God's blessing you with the ability to do the things that you do so you can give back to others, so you can be a blessing to others."
Among the many acts of service that Starks has done, either through UGA or on his own, are running some football camps, teaming with Dick's Sporting Goods to give 16 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Athens $300 gift cards during the Christmas holidays, as well as teaming with Academy Sports and Outdoors to give children from Gladiator Youth Football and the Boys & Girls Club a shopping spree before heading back to school this fall.
When he's done playing football, Starks might give back in another way, through coaching maybe at the youth or high school level.
"I don't think I want to do it at the college level, because I see how much time they're away from their family and how much you put into it," he said. "But I think it'd be fun."
A starter in Georgia's secondary since the first game of his freshman season, in 2022, Starks has had plenty of fun on the field with the Bulldogs.
Last season, Starks was fourth on the team with 52.0 tackles and ranked third with three interceptions. As a freshman, the former five-star recruit ranked third on the team with 68.0 tackles and tied for second with two INTs. In his first game as a Bulldog, the 2022 season opener against Oregon in Atlanta, not only was Starks in the starting lineup, he led the team with 8.0 tackles and picked off his first pass to end the Ducks' second possession.
Third on the team in tackles in that win over Oregon was a walk-on safety, Dan Jackson. Two years on, with Starks in his third (and possibly last given where he might go in the NFL Draft) season and Jackson a redshirt senior who spent two seasons on the scout team, the duo has started every game in the secondary this season. And heading into Saturday's monster game at Texas, Starks' 32.0 tackles rank first on the defense, and Jackson's 31.0 rank second.
Their careers began in very different places, but Starks and Jackson have spent a lot of time on and off the field together. Sometimes, before Georgia games, they'll watch other games "just to clear our heads," Jackson said.
For both, having learned so much about football in their time at Georgia, watching a game on TV is different now.
"It's funny because I can't just watch a football game anymore," Starks said. "Every time I watch, I'm dissecting it."
Said Jackson: "Just being a student of the game, I don't think I can ever watch a game the same now that I've played college football."
One way Starks can get away from the game is through giving back. The more he does it, the more he realizes the impact it has on him.
"I've realized that it's honestly doing more to me than it is to them. Like, it's helping me more than it is them, and not from a standpoint like I'll get my name out there. It's just the joy that I get from it," he said. "I've had some camps so far, and when I do my camps, it doesn't really matter boy, girl, old, young. Just come out and have fun."
Staff Writer
Malaki Starks doesn't just give back because community service makes for good press and photo opportunities for Instagram. The Georgia junior knows first-hand the impact helping others can have. He might not be an All-American safety without the efforts and generosity of others.
Last month, Starks was named to the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team — one of 11 players in the FBS selected based on their community service. When you've been where Starks has been, in a family at one point dealing with homelessness but never hopelessness, helping hands can be more like lifelines.
"I think it started when I was little. Growing up, you saw people who were giving back who didn't have to, and ... I was like, Man, I want that. Like, as I got older, I saw the impact that it had on people, and then as I got into it, I realized the impact that it had on me, as well," said Starks, from Jefferson, Ga., about 20 miles outside Athens.
"I think the biggest thing growing up, my parents always taught me that God's blessing you with the ability to do the things that you do so you can give back to others, so you can be a blessing to others."
Among the many acts of service that Starks has done, either through UGA or on his own, are running some football camps, teaming with Dick's Sporting Goods to give 16 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Athens $300 gift cards during the Christmas holidays, as well as teaming with Academy Sports and Outdoors to give children from Gladiator Youth Football and the Boys & Girls Club a shopping spree before heading back to school this fall.
When he's done playing football, Starks might give back in another way, through coaching maybe at the youth or high school level.
"I don't think I want to do it at the college level, because I see how much time they're away from their family and how much you put into it," he said. "But I think it'd be fun."
A starter in Georgia's secondary since the first game of his freshman season, in 2022, Starks has had plenty of fun on the field with the Bulldogs.
Last season, Starks was fourth on the team with 52.0 tackles and ranked third with three interceptions. As a freshman, the former five-star recruit ranked third on the team with 68.0 tackles and tied for second with two INTs. In his first game as a Bulldog, the 2022 season opener against Oregon in Atlanta, not only was Starks in the starting lineup, he led the team with 8.0 tackles and picked off his first pass to end the Ducks' second possession.
Third on the team in tackles in that win over Oregon was a walk-on safety, Dan Jackson. Two years on, with Starks in his third (and possibly last given where he might go in the NFL Draft) season and Jackson a redshirt senior who spent two seasons on the scout team, the duo has started every game in the secondary this season. And heading into Saturday's monster game at Texas, Starks' 32.0 tackles rank first on the defense, and Jackson's 31.0 rank second.
Their careers began in very different places, but Starks and Jackson have spent a lot of time on and off the field together. Sometimes, before Georgia games, they'll watch other games "just to clear our heads," Jackson said.
For both, having learned so much about football in their time at Georgia, watching a game on TV is different now.
"It's funny because I can't just watch a football game anymore," Starks said. "Every time I watch, I'm dissecting it."
Said Jackson: "Just being a student of the game, I don't think I can ever watch a game the same now that I've played college football."
One way Starks can get away from the game is through giving back. The more he does it, the more he realizes the impact it has on him.
"I've realized that it's honestly doing more to me than it is to them. Like, it's helping me more than it is them, and not from a standpoint like I'll get my name out there. It's just the joy that I get from it," he said. "I've had some camps so far, and when I do my camps, it doesn't really matter boy, girl, old, young. Just come out and have fun."
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballGeorgia Football - Coach Kirby Smart Sugar Bowl Postgame Press Conference
Friday, January 02
Georgia Football - Sugar Bowl TV Highlights
Friday, January 02
Georgia Football - Sugar Bowl Trailer vs Ole Miss
Wednesday, December 31
Georgia Football: Pre-Sugar Bowl - Coaches Press Conference
Wednesday, December 31