Malaki Starks stepped onto the field at the University of Georgia as an 18-year-old instant starter for a team fresh off winning a national championship.
He's a long way from Georgia now, but as he prepares for his first NFL training camp, the Ravens' rookie first-round pick feels he's in familiar territory.
After Ar'Darius Washington suffered an Achilles injury this spring, Starks is in line to be a Week 1 starter when the Ravens line up in Buffalo for a rematch of last year's divisional playoff game.
"I'm just looking at it as a privilege," Starks said on "The Lounge" podcast after reporting for training camp. "This is what I asked for. When I signed up, I knew what I was signing up for. I'm really just taking that on with the right head and just staying grounded in my faith."
Starks is the 16th defensive player the Ravens have ever drafted in the first round. Six were Week 1 rookie starters: Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata, C.J. Mosley, and Patrick Queen.
Starks would be just the second defensive back to step into the spotlight immediately. Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, and Jaire Alexander (with the Packers) were all eased into starting action as rookies. However, the Ravens have a need, and they feel Starks has the makeup to take on the job.
"[Starks] is a very mature player. That's why he's a first-round pick. He's the kind of guy that you would expect to be able to step into a role like that," Head Coach John Harbaugh said during OTAs. "With Ar'Darius' situation, he got thrust into that situation maybe a little sooner than we'd hoped, but he's embraced it. I expect him to do very well."
Starks has atypical maturity, evidenced by the fact that he organized walk-throughs at the team hotel during rookie minicamp. He's a film junkie who rewrites his meeting notes at night to better remember them. Starks went back and studied the Ravens' playoff loss in Buffalo and has pored over Hamilton's film to better understand the All-Pro he'll be playing next to. While he's a natural leader, Starks is being a learner first.
"I'm leaning on the older guys. They've been here for a while, they know. They've been through what I'm about to go through," Starks said.
"I'm a rookie. It's okay to be a rookie, and I understand that. I want to give myself that grace. But I also still have high standards for myself. I know the expectations that have been set. So, I'm just really trying to find a good balance within that process."
If Starks' college start is any indication, he'll do just fine in Buffalo. In his first game, on the second possession of the game, Starks made a phenomenal leaping interception on a deep pass by then-Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, who tried to test the freshman safety.
Starks is hoping to replicate that hot start against the Bills and Josh Allen on Sept. 7.
"I said it a few weeks ago. Somebody asked me who I wanted to pick off. I said, 'Josh Allen, first game,'" Starks said with a smile. "So, it's coming. I'm working on it."
Starks will have the luxury of lining up next to Hamilton, who is arguably the best safety in the NFL in part because of his versatility. Starks said he'll take his cues from Hamilton in terms of where to play – high or low.
"Whatever he wants to do, I'll do the opposite," Starks said with a laugh.
Hamilton said during minicamp that he's looking forward to bonding more with Starks during training camp, when the daily grind of preparing for the season truly starts.
"He's super eager to learn, and [he's] very mature for his age. I can tell he is a great dude, a great football player, and I'm excited for you all to see it on display this season," Hamilton said.
"Obviously, I'm sick about what happened to 'A.D.' and thinking about him, [sending] prayers for him, but I mean, that allows Malaki to grow up quicker now. I think he's just the right guy for it."
