Malaki Starks named 2024 Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist

Georgia football defensive back Malaki Starks has been named a semifinalist 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 15 semifinalists for the annual Jim Thorpe Award. Three finalists will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 26, and 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 seven games this season. He is first on the team with 39 total tackles (26 solo, 13 assisted) and has also recorded three tackles for loss and an interception.

Second-ranked Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC) is next scheduled to take on the Florida Gators (4-3, 2-2 SEC) on Saturday, Nov. 2 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The game will be televised by ABC and streamed via ESPN+ at 3:30pm ET (Buy Tickets).

2024 UGA Football Schedule

Malaki Starks has been named a Semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award#GoDawgs | @StarksMalaki pic.twitter.com/UyUFasnSNc

— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) October 29, 2024

THEY CAME TO DOMINATE 🏆 15 of the nation’s best defensive backs named @Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalists #thorpeaward The field is wide open, so play on.
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Jahdae Barron @TexasFootball , Jalen Catalon @unlvfootball , Tacario Davis @ArizonaFBall , Caleb Downs @OhioStateFB… pic.twitter.com/nNmdsVsu0B

— Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (@jimthorpeaward) October 29, 2024