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Goal No. 10: NEVER GIVE UP. Never, never, never.
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#10 Donnie Starks |
Position: Defensive Back Previous College: None Projection: Starter Status: On Scholarship |
Donovan Starks (b. June 6, 1994) is a speedy defensive back who who moved into the starting nickelback position in 2015 and will look to retain his starting spot as a senior while providing leadership in the defensive backfield.
Starks originally was slated for a grayshirt in 2012, but the sudden glut of available scholarships resulting from mass defections from the prior two recruiting classes opened a wide door for him to step though.
He redshirted in 2012 and saw time in the Louisiana game in 2013, but did not record any statistics.
Starks then saw time in four games in 2014 and came away with five tackles, including one for a loss. He recorded three tackles against UTEP, while his lone tackle for loss was against Oklahoma State.
Last season, Starks broke through to become a starter after the graduation of Randall Evans.
He started all 13 games — the first 12 at nickelback and the final one at cornerback — as he carded 55 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and four pass breakups. His tackle total ranked third on the team.
Starks tallied a career-high 11 tackles at Oklahoma State, while he had seven at UTSA and five against TCU. He had his first-career sack and a career-high two pass breakups against Baylor.
He was District 19-4A Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore at Crosby High School and an all-district cornerback as a senior. He had 189 solo tackles, 44 assisted tackles and six picks with a TD, and also ran track for two years.