Zach Orr Opening Statement: "I appreciate you guys coming out. Obviously, you can tell that we're excited. Last night, we drafted Malaki Starks out of Georgia. First and foremost, I just want to thank [executive vice president and general manager] Eric [DeCosta] and his staff, all the work they do to provide us coaches the information to evaluate the players, and it became real clear when we started the evaluation process as coaches that Malaki Starks with one of the top players in this draft. When you combine his on-the-field talent, his on-the-field production combined with his character, his work ethic and his mindset that we look for in Baltimore, he was a clear-cut No. 1 defensive player for us, as coaches. So, we were ecstatic when we got him, not just me as a [defensive] coordinator, not just the secondary coaches, [but] our linebacker coaches were excited [and] defensive line coaches were excited, because we know what type of player and what type of person we bringing to Baltimore. I know Eric and 'Harbs' [head coach John Harbaugh] talked about his interview process. It was a great interview at the Combine. I was there, went to the [Georgia] Pro Day, [and it was] one of the best workouts I've seen, not just from a DB, just from a football player in general. And then when you cut on the film, it's very evident that not a lot of people can do what Malaki Starks can do on the football field. So, we're ecstatic to add him to our defense, to add him to our team. We play with a lot of DBs in the secondary. He's very familiar with playing all over the secondary, which was [appealing] to us. He's a playmaker, he's a ballhawk, and then most importantly, he's a dog, in the classroom, off the field and on the field. [He] loves ball. That's what we're looking for in Baltimore, so we're excited to add him to our defense. He's going to be a great piece for us, and we're excited to get to work with him."
S Malaki Starks Opening Statement: "It's kind of hard to follow up after that." (laughter) "I just want to say thank you to the whole staff and [executive vice president and general manager] Eric [DeCosta] and the whole staff for just believing in me and taking a shot on me. Just the history that runs here ... I think when I chose to go to University of Georgia as a freshman, the history that ran through their defensive room and the history that I want to be a part of, the type of program that I want to be a part of, is very similar to what they've built here. There's a lot of elite guys that I can't wait to learn from and be a sponge. I'm ready to get here and be a Raven. I'm ready to get to work."
You kind of touched upon the Ravens history. This is a team that had Ed Reed at safety and now has S Kyle Hamilton. How much does that mean to be a part of that legacy at that position here? (Jamison Hensley)
(STARKS) "Yes, I think it's huge, and I take pride in it. A really big thing for me is showing respect for the guys who came before you and paving the way for the ones who are going to come after you, so just being able to be in that room and learn from those guys and just the history that runs here, like I said earlier, just really tap into that and learn what it means to be a Raven. I'm excited."
Zach, does your mind start spinning immediately when you think about him and S Kyle Hamilton and all the other DBs about what you can do with his talent now added to your defense? (Morgan Adsit)
(ORR) "Definitely. I ran into Coach [John Harbaugh] this morning. We were in the weight room. We were already talking about all the different ways [of] how he adds to our defense, man, and we talk about the advantage that we feel like we have here in Baltimore is being positionless, and that's all over the field, but especially with our secondary. He helps create an advantage for us and a disadvantage to the [opposing] offense, because he can line up all over the field for us and be productive along with the other DBs we have in the room, so we're excited to continue to add to that, and it's going to be great for us."
Malaki, I'm sure you've been dreaming for a while to be drafted into the NFL. Have you taken time to kind of slow time down for a second and just think about what led you to this point today? (Cordell Woodland)
(STARKS) "I think I did last night. It's been quick. You get that call, you walk on stage, and it's quick. You get interviews. You go to sleep. Next morning, you're on the flight, but I think after I got done with the interviews, and I got back, and I was with my family, just being able to sit on the couch and just kind of talk about it and just really be grateful for the whole moment. A lot of guys dream of this day, and a lot of guys don't make it to it, as well, so just really appreciating the little things that it took to get me here and all the people who've helped me get in this position today was really huge for me."
Malaki, the Ravens talked about how impressive you were in the Combine interview. What impressed you about the Ravens organization when you interviewed with them? (Gerry Sandusky)
(STARKS) "You can just feel it. I kind of talked about this earlier with Coach [John Harbaugh]. When you watch Raven Football, you can feel it. When someone says, 'Raven Football,' you know what they're talking about as soon as they say it, so as soon as I walked in the room, I felt that presence, that energy of football, and at the end of the day, I'm a guy who loves football, but also surrounding myself with good people, good men, because I'm still young, and I'm still learning. So, just being able to be at a place like this is huge for me and my family."
Malaki, just go back to what you were saying about the journey ... What has that journey been like all the way back to your childhood – third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade dealing with hard times and all of that – to this point? How would you describe what it means to you to go from that to this? (Brian Wacker)
(STARKS) "It's a blessing. I come from a very faithful background, and something that me and my parents and my fiancée had talked about a lot this week, but throughout the process as well, is God has already written my story for me, so just being able to have faith in him and stay true to myself and not compromise that for anybody. I think when you look back on things that me and my family have been through, just being able to stay true to ourselves, but also keep God first. Things happen for a reason, and you may never know, and you may know right away, but just having faith in that and staying true to ourselves is what really got me to my point today."
Malaki, did you feel like you waited a little bit too long to have your name called and will that be motivation going forward, playing with a little bit of a chip on your shoulder to some of the teams who passed you up? (Jerry Coleman)
(STARKS) "No, I'm in a perfect spot. I'm right where I need to be. I'm ready to get to work."
At Georgia, you practiced against some great players, including Brock Bowers. Coming here, how much are you looking forward to practicing against some of the greatest weapons and how much do you think that'll help you develop? (Cliff Brown)
(STARKS) "Yes, I think 'Iron sharpens iron,' and I'm a guy who loves to compete. So, at the end of the day, as much as I want to learn from the defensive side, I want to learn from the offensive side, too. So, I'm excited to really get out there and be a sponge to all the elite guys that they have on the team."
Zach, you mentioned that Malaki Starks was a top guy that you guys were hoping to get. We saw the clip of you celebrating with the defensive coaches. Just what was the emotion of that moment and what led to that excitement that you had at that moment? (Garrett Downing)
(ORR) "Like I said, early in the process, at the Combine, watching the film, going down to the [Georgia] Pro Day, talking to the coaches and staff at [the University of] Georgia, how much they raved about him, and that confirming with our own conversations, and the film. Our football coaches, we love football, we love guys who love football, and Malaki [Starks] is one of those guys, and it was something we talked about throughout the night. It was like, 'Man, hopefully Malaki is there. Hopefully, he's there.' So that was the guy we were focused on as coaches from a defensive standpoint the whole time, and as it gets closer, you start getting a little bit more anxious. So, when we found out that we were going to be able to get him here in Baltimore, [we were] just ecstatic. All our coaches, they watch football, they watch the tape, they know what type of player he is, and we're glad to have him."
Malaki, the good news is you don't have to see them as an opponent on Sunday. The bad news is you've got to see him every day in practice. QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry, what are your thoughts on playing against guys you've probably been playing against on Madden for a lot of years? (Gerry Sandusky)
(STARKS) "You're not wrong." (laughter) "I'm excited. To piggyback off what I said earlier, these guys are elite, so just to be able to come to a place like this and be able to sharpen my skills and learn from them, and they can do the same for me as well. So, I'm excited to get to work."
Malaki, in some of your interviews, you mentioned your work ethic and how your family has helped shape that. Can you go into more detail about that, your work ethic? (Carita Parks)
(STARKS) "Yes. I think the biggest thing is, as a kid, I was homeless twice, and there was a period of time where I didn't really see my parents because they were working day shifts, night shifts, whatever the case be, but I've never seen them not work for anything, and I saw it, and it turned me into who I am today. When things don't go my way, when I don't know what to do, I put my head down and work. It's always been what I do. It's part of who I am, it's how I go about my business [by] just doing things the right way. Like I said earlier, keeping your faith up front, staying true to yourself. I've seen that from my parents, and I've seen it from my sister, as well. So, all the people who set a great example for me to follow, I've just got to follow in their footsteps."
Zach, you mentioned how impressed you were by S Malaki Starks' Pro Day workout. Was there anything there that you saw that added to your evaluation of him that maybe you didn't know? (Jonas Shaffer)
(ORR) "Yes. You see it on film, but then just getting really close on the field where you can really see the movement skills and the ball skills. [Malaki Starks] made a catch where he [back]-pedaled, got deep, broke on the ball beautifully, made an acrobatic catch and then jumped right over – they had some tape and a rope – and he saved himself and jumped over it all in one motion, and everybody in attendance was just wowed. So, after that workout, I honestly, personally, was saying, 'There's no way he's going to get to [the number] 27 [overall pick]. There's no way.' All the coaches, the GMs and the head coaches who were there were raving about him, but the Pro Day was so impressive. Like I said, it was one of the best workouts I've seen, and it's good to see that, because on film, you can see movement skills, but seeing it up close kind of checked that box, and he obliterated the box. It was really impressive."
Malaki, over the last couple years we've seen University of Georgia guys get drafted and then have immediate impact where they land. What is it about what's going on in Athens that has led to that early success? (Alex Glaze)
(STARKS) "I think it's just how the [University of Georgia] program is run. They try to run it like a pro-type program, but also guys buy into the culture. The way that we do things, the way that things need to be done. You see it. When people have success, why wouldn't you follow in their footsteps? Why would you not do the things that have been working? So, we get a bunch of guys who really want to come in and be a part of that culture, and when they buy in, they see it leads to success."
Who do you consider some of your football mentors, and who did you lean on during this whole pre-draft process of getting to this point? (Jeff Zrebiec)
(STARKS) "Yes, the biggest guy, Chris Smith [II], who was with the Raiders. He was my mentor when I first got to college. He taught me a lot about ball, but also just how to be a pro, how to go about my business. And then a lot of guys that I played with last year, Tykee Smith, Javon Bullard, Kamari Lassiter, just leaning on guys like that who went through the process last year, who were able to have success in the League early. Just reaching out for advice. You never really know what's going to happen, but like I said, your story is already written out, so just having faith in that and just being ready when your name is called."
How much do you think the big-game experience you had at the college level is going to help at this level? (Jerry Coleman)
(STARKS) "I think it's going to be huge. And I'm not saying it's the same, but just being able to have the opportunity to be in those types of games and those environments, I think it's prepared me very well."
The bitter rivalries in the SEC compare a little bit to the rivalries in the AFC North, don't you think? (AJ Gersh)
(STARKS) "Just a little bit. Yes, sir." (laughter)
What do you think of those battles and how they'll translate to the battles in the AFC North going forward in your pro career? (AJ Gersh)
(STARKS) "I think, at the end of the day, it's football, and it's passion. When you get programs who really care about football, that's what you get. So, just being able to come to an organization like [the Ravens], who have that passion about football and who are willing to take a shot on me, I think I'm going to do the most with my opportunity."
Zach, you watched the film, and there are a lot of tape reps where S Malaki Starks is manning guys up in the slot, which I think is not something you see from a lot of safety prospects, but what does that speak to what he can be in the NFL and just the trust that Georgia had in him to do that? (Jonas Shaffer)
(ORR) "Yes, it just shows the versatility that we talk about. Like you said, there are not a lot of safeties who can do the zone [coverage], come up and tackle, play in the deep part of the field, and then most importantly, play man [coverage], not just on tight ends, but on receivers, and Malaki [Starks] did that at a high level, so that's a bonus and plus for us, because we'll be able to use his skillset to the fullest and maximize his skillset that he's worked at and he's been blessed with. So, I don't anticipate that really changing here for us. That's something that we value a lot. I think that if you look at our secondary room, you see that a lot of our guys can do everything, so that's why Malaki was so appealing to us. I'm excited about it."
Malaki, the Ravens talked about your football IQ and your knowledge of the game. What would you attribute that to? (Kevin Richardson)
(STARKS) "Chris Smith [II], but also just my coaches at Georgia – so Will Muschamp, Coach Kirby Smart, Coach [Glenn] Schumann, Coach Fran [Brown], Donte Williams, 'T-Rob' [Travaris Robinson], who was at 'Bama last year – just being able to be in a program like that and really dive into it. I think me being able to play different positions in college really opened my mind to learning football and certain aspects, so just being able to be in a place like that with guys who really care about football allowed me to really open my vision and learn ball."
Malaki, do you know what number you're going to wear? (Brian Wacker)
(STARKS) "[Number] 24. If I can get it, I'll get it. If not, it [doesn't] matter what number I've got. As long as I'm on the field matter, it [doesn't] matter."
