Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: FS Malaki Starks

Here is our scouting report on Malaki Starks from Georgia

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at safety Malaki Starks from Georgia.

Malaki Starks

FS
Georgia Bulldogs
Junior
5-star recruit
6’1”
197 lbs

Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images

History

William Malaki Starks was born on November 13, 2003, in Commerce, Georgia. He attended Jefferson High School in Jefferson, Georgia, where he excelled as a two-sport athlete in football and track and field. In football he was a multi-positional star playing on both offence and defense. By the end of his high school career, he was ranked fourth nationally by 247 Sports in the 2022 class and was a five-star recruit. Starks received offers from top programs like Alabama, Clemson, and USC but chose to stay close to home, committing to the University of Georgia.

Starks enrolled at Georgia in January 2022 and made an immediate impact as a true freshman. He started every game after Week 1, contributing to Georgia’s second consecutive national championship. His stats included 68 tackles, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions, earning him recognition as a key defensive player on a star-studded roster.

Starks continued to shine in 2023, earning consensus All-American honors and First-Team All-SEC recognition. He recorded 52 tackles, seven pass breakups, and three interceptions, solidifying his reputation as one of the nation’s top defensive backs. His performance also landed him on watch lists for awards like the Jim Thorpe Award.

In his final season at Georgia, Starks registered a career high of 77 tackles, three pass breakups, and one interception. Off the field, he was honored as part of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his community service, including his work with cancer-related charities in memory of his mother, and was named Scholar Athlete of the Game at Stegeman Coliseum, reflecting his academic excellence.

2024 Statistics

765 Defensive Snaps
426 Coverage Snaps
77 Total Tackles
4 Tackles For Loss
1 INT
3 Pass Breakups
1 TD Allowed
86.7 Passer RTG Allowed
1 Penalty

NFL Combine/Pro Day

10-Yard Split- 1.51s (87%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.50s (73%)
Vert- 33” (19%)
3C- 7.26s (10%)
Shuttle- 4.45s (6%)

Awards

All-America (2024)
All-America (2023)
Second-Team All-SEC (2024)
First-Team All-SEC (2023)

Scorecard

Overall- 88.6
Speed- 82
Acceleration- 90
Agility- 78
Strength- 80
Tackling- 77
Zone Coverage- 89
Man Coverage- 81
Press- 72
Run Defense- 87
Discipline- 97

THE GOOD

• Elite range as a free safety, capable of covering sideline to sideline, thanks to his rapid speed and elite change-of-direction.
• Excels in zone coverage, particularly in deep-third or two-deep schemes,
• Shows great his instincts and football IQ.
• Has fantastic pre-snap recognition and ability to diagnose plays quickly.
• Rarely out of position in zone coverage, showing discipline and awareness in deep responsibilities.
• Effective communicator on the back end, aligning the secondary and making adjustments pre-snap.
• Willing and physical run defender, capable of stepping into the box to support against the run.
• Uses length and leverage to disengage from blockers, particularly against slot receivers.
• High-character player, voted team captain at Georgia, reflecting leadership and respect from peers.

THE BAD

• Not as effective in man coverage, particularly against shifty slot receivers or tight ends, where technical refinements are needed.
• Can struggle with transitions out of backpedals, occasionally opening his hips too early, which allows separation against quicker opponents.
• While a willing tackler, Starks occasionally misses tackles in space.
• Needs to improve wrap-up technique to avoid arm tackles.
• Rarely asked to play press coverage at the line of scrimmage, limiting evaluation of his ability to jam receivers and disrupt timing.
• Occasionally over-aggressive in jumping routes, which can lead to missed plays or being out of position.
• Pursuit angles need a fair amount of coaching.
• Can be overpowered by larger tight ends or linemen when engaged as a blocker, requiring better use of technique to shed blocks consistently.

THE FIT

Malaki Starks projects as a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, likely in the top 20 range, due to his combination of athleticism, football IQ, and production in a pro-style defense at Georgia. His elite range and instincts make him an ideal fit for NFL defenses needing a centerfield-type free safety. While he needs technical refinement in man coverage and tackling, his upside is significant, particularly in schemes that prioritize zone coverage and a back-end commander.

He best fits as a free safety in a Cover 3 or Cover 2 scheme, where his range, instincts, and ball skills can be maximized as a deep-third or split-field defender. With refinement and coaching he could develop into a versatile safety in a Cover 1 or man-heavy scheme if he can improve his man coverage skills, potentially playing both free and strong safety roles.

For the Dallas Cowboys he would fit as a dynamic safety whose coverage skills, versatility, and athleticism align with the new defensive vision. He addresses potential roster needs, contributes on special teams, and positions the team for long-term success in a pass-dominated league. Starks would be a valuable addition to the Cowboys’ defense, enhancing their competitiveness in the NFC.

The Cowboys’ current safety tandem of Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson both have an uncertain future in Dallas due to contract situations and performance considerations. Starks, with his versatility to play either safety role, could serve as a long-term solution. His addition would provide depth and flexibility, allowing the Cowboys to adapt to various defensive scenarios while grooming a potential starter. His presence would complement the existing roster, offering both immediate depth and future upside.

COMPARISON:

Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons

BTB GRADE:

16th

CONSENSUS RANKING:

18th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)