Malaki Starks delivers group-best speed in multiple NFL Combine drills

Malaki Starks headed to the NFL Combine this week to show off what he can do and came up with an impressive showing in Indianapolis.

Across Friday evening, Starks was a part of the defensive back group to take the field for individual testing. Starks lived up to his repetition as one of the best athletes in the group and delivered impressive speed numbers across the board.

While Starks was not in the mix for the top 40-yard dash time of the day (Kentucky corner Maxwell Hairston took that mark among all DBs), the Georgia product produced the fastest speed in 5 total drills at the safety position. His top speed in the short shuttle, W drill, gauntlet drill, line drill and Teryl Austin Drill were all the best marks produced by a safety.

Overall, Starks ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash, but his speed in other areas shows he had plenty of in-game speed for Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs:

Coming into the week, NFL.com expert Daniel Jeremiah had Starks as the 34th overall prospect in this year’s class, and his outing in Indy should not diminish that. His overall draft score generated at the combine is 81, per Next Gen Stats. That mark is 2nd among safeties and trails only what South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori generated with an 85 after his eye-popping vertical and impressive 40 time.

Combined with Starks’s impressive in-game ball skills (6 interceptions and 17 pass breakups for Georgia), he should be in line for an immediate impact at the next level.

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.