Sophomore Surge: What does Year Two Look Like for Malaki Starks?

Originally posted on FanNation Dawgs Daily
By Jonathan Williams | Last updated 3/21/23

The Georgia Bulldogs have a litany of players who are entering their second year with the program, and several of them were valuable contributors as true freshmen. As these players gain experience, their roles will continue to grow. Spring practice is a pivotal point in the offseason to see how players' careers are progressing and will provide a quick preview of what could be in store for these players in 2023.

Safety Malaki Starks burst onto the scene during his true freshman season and was an immediate contributor on defense from the jump. In week one against Oregon, he stacked up eight tackles on the day along with a miraculous interception. Starks became a household name that day and maintained that status throughout the entire year.

As the Bulldogs no prepare to defend their two consecutive titles, Starks will now be tabbed as a leader in the back end of the defense. Christopher Smith played alongside Starks last season but is now off to the NFL and will take his five years of college experience with him. That leaves Starks as the headliner for the safeties as Georgia will spend Spring practice trying to figure out who the next name that will be lined up with Starks at the other safety spot.

While Georgia will lean on Starks more than they did a season ago, Starks has proven he can rise to the occasion. In 2022, the Bulldogs needed a big game out of their safeties in their matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers. In order to keep Tennessee's offense in check, Georgia had to be able to keep light numbers in the box, and that started with the safeties being able to charge down the alley and make tackles. In that game, Starks finished with ten total tackles and six solo tackles.

It's not a matter of if Starks will be good in 2023, it's a matter of how good he will be in his second season as a collegiate football player. His true freshman season looked nothing like what a typical freshman season looks like, which is a sign of good things to come in his sophomore season.