Malaki Starks makes another watch list, joined by Daylen Everette
Another day, another watch list, and today, it’s the defensive backs that take center stage. After All-American safety Malaki Starks was included on the watch list for the Nagurski Award on Tuesday, Wednesday saw both he and cornerback Daylen Everette as names to know on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award watch list.
The award has been given out each year since 1986 to the top defensive back in College Football by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. Trey Taylor of Air Force is the most recent recipient, beating out Starks who was a fellow finalist, while you don’t have to go too far back to find Georgia’s lone winner: Deandre Baker in 2018.
Starks, who enters 2024 with 28 career starts, five interceptions and a total of 120 tackles, should be considered among the favorites to take home the award when it’s handed out in December as a third-year starter and one of the best defensive players in all of College Football regardless of position. As for Everette, Stark’s fellow 2022 signee, he enters his second season as a starter in the Bulldog secondary. Manning the spot opposite of Kamari Lassiter last season, Everette made 39 stops including three for loss and 23 solo tackles. He came down with an interception in the season-finale against Florida State and is one of two returning starting on the backend of Georgia’s defense alongside Starks.
The duo is the latest of a growing list of players to receive some sort of preseason recognition. After 15 Georgia players made an All-SEC squad, a total of 10 so far have found their name on a watch list.
QB Carson Beck – Maxwell Award
RB Trevor Etienne – Maxwell Award
OL Dylan Fairchild – Outland Trophy
OL Tate Ratledge – Outland Trophy
OL Xavier Truss – Outland Trophy
DL Nazir Stackhouse – Outland Trophy
DL Mykel Williams – Nagurski Trophy
LB Smael Mondon – Nagurski Trophy
DB Daylen Everette – Thorpe Award
DB Malaki Starks – Nagurski Trophy, Thorpe Award
Georgia kicks off its 2024 season on August 31st against Clemson with a battle between ACC and SEC favorites in Atlanta. The Bulldogs open fall camp this week and are expected to be named the preseason top-ranked team when the AP and Coaches polls are released.
UPCOMING WATCH LIST ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thu., Aug. 1: Paul Hornung Award/Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
Fri., Aug. 2: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award
Mon., Aug. 5: Walter Camp Award
Tue., Aug. 6: Doak Walker Award
Wed., Aug. 7: Biletnikoff Award
Thu., Aug. 8: Davey O’Brien Award
Fri., Aug. 9: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy
Mon., Aug. 12: Bednarik Award
Tue., Aug. 13: Butkus Award
