2022 SAF Malaki Starks (6-2 196) of Jefferson, GA heard from Clemson earlier this month and landed an offer from the Tigers. Starks is regarded as an athlete, but with Clemson, he’s being recruited as a safety. He got his call on an offer from free safeties coach Mickey Conn.
“Me and him have been talking for a while and he told me a long time ago that they aren’t allowed to offer any 2022 prospects at the moment,” Starks said. “But he told me that once he was allowed to I would be his first safety and he told me I was a big priority at Clemson. Some of my family went to Clemson and they love Clemson and that offer was very special. It’s amazing. I can’t wait to go up there and look at the campus.”
Starks is rated as a four-star by 247Sports, and he’s ranked as the #13 athlete nationally iand the #13 prospect in Georgia in the 2022 class. He also holds offers from USC, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU and Nebraska.
What is helping to seperate Clemson from the rest?
“One thing I think is big is leadership and I see that a lot there,” he said. “That is why they can be so successful all the time. Coach Swinney is very big on leadership and that is something that Coach Conn has told me. I just love it. I love how they compete and the pageantry of the games. I would like to make a visit as soon as I can. I am really looking forward to getting up there and getting to know everybody and getting on campus.”
Starks also plays running back and rushed for over 500 yards last season. But the Tigers, especially Conn, like him for the secondary where he had 27 tackles and 5 interceptions last season.
“We have been talking and he said he sees me as a safety,” Starks said. “A person who can return kicks and punts and stuff like that. But yes, he sees me as a safety.”
Starks was honorable mention 3A All-State last season, and was named the Athlete of the Year in his region. He also is a traack standout in the 200 meters and the triple-jump.
