Malaki Starks named 2024 Jim Thorpe Award finalist

Georgia football defensive back Malaki Starks has been named a finalist for the 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, the Jim Thorpe Association and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) have announced.

The Jim Thorpe Award is an annual award presented “to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability, and character.” Last season, Trey Taylor from Air Force took home the hardware.

Starks is one of three semifinalists for the annual Jim Thorpe Award, along with Jahdae Barron of Texas and Caleb Downs of Ohio State. The winner will be selected and announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 12 live on ESPN.

Malaki Starks, who hails from Jefferson, Ga., has started at defensive back in all 11 games this season. He is tied for the team lead with 55 total tackles (35 solo, 20 assisted) and has also recorded four tackles for loss (12 yards) and an interception.

The Georgia Bulldogs (9-2, 6-2 SEC) are next scheduled to host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Friday, Nov. 29 at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. The game will be televised by ABC at 7:30pm ET (Buy Tickets).

2024 UGA Football Schedule

Malaki Starks is one of three finalists for the 𝐉𝐢𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝#GoDawgs | @starks_malaki pic.twitter.com/Z8sFQyku6P

— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) November 26, 2024