James Starks

Last updated

James Starks
James Starks.jpg
Starks in 2011
No. 44
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1986-02-25) February 25, 1986 (age 38)
Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school: Niagara Falls
College: Buffalo (2005–2009)
NFL draft: 2010  / Round: 6 / Pick: 193
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:2,506
Rushing average:4.1
Rushing touchdowns:9
Receptions:125
Receiving yards:1,017
Receiving touchdowns:6
Player stats at PFR

James Darell Starks (born February 25, 1986) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Buffalo Bulls and was selected by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He was a member of their Super Bowl XLV championship team that beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Contents

Early life

James attended high school in Niagara Falls, New York, where he played football and ran track. In football, he ran for 1,048 yards and threw for over 600 yards for the Wolverines of Niagara Falls High School while earning All-Western New York honors in his senior season. He served as a captain for three years. In track & field, Starks was one of the states top performers in the long jump (PR of 7.00 meters), and also recorded an 11.14 100-meter dash time.[ citation needed ]

Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Starks's only scholarship offer came from Buffalo, which he accepted.

College career

Starks attended the University at Buffalo, where he played on the Buffalo Bulls football team from 2006 to 2009. He set a career rushing record with 3,140 yards, and scored 40 total touchdowns. He registered back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons as a sophomore and junior. He was one of the elite backs in the MAC and became the first 1,000-yard rusher in the Bulls’ Division I-A era. He also became the first UB freshman to earn All-MAC recognition in 2006. He earned second-team All-MAC honors as a freshman and sophomore, and was named to the All-MAC first-team as a junior. Starks did not play in his senior season due to a shoulder injury. [1] He is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. [2]

College statistics

Buffalo Bulls
YearGPRushingReceiving
AttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
2006 121757044.0546342266.6300
2007 122511,1034.49212413117.6742
2008 122721,3334.96616523616.9651
Total366983,1404.592341278987.1743
Source: FoxSports.com

Professional career

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Starks's NFL Combine workout
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+18 in
(1.88 m)
218 lb
(99 kg)
33+34 in
(0.86 m)
9+12 in
(0.24 m)
4.50 s1.61 s2.69 s4.23 s6.89 s36.0 in
(0.91 m)
9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)
15 reps
All values are from NFL Combine [3] [4]

Starks was selected in the sixth round (193rd overall) by the Green Bay Packers in the 2010 NFL draft. [5] On June 23, 2010, he signed a contract with the Packers. [6] Starks was placed on reserve/physically unable to perform on August 31, 2010. [7] On November 9, 2010, he was activated from the physically unable to perform list. [8] He made his NFL debut on December 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, with 18 carries for 73 yards. On January 9 in the 2011 Wild Card Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Starks broke the Packers' rookie post-season record for rushing yards in a single game. His first touchdown came against the Chicago Bears in the NFC championship game. On the weekend before the Super Bowl, the Niagara Falls—in his hometown of Niagara Falls, New York—were lit green and gold in his honor. The following Monday, Starks met with Niagara Falls mayor Paul Dyster.[ citation needed ]

Starks's rookie season finished with a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV in which he rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries. [9] He ended the postseason with the third-most rushing yards for a rookie running back in a single playoffs behind Timmy Smith in 1987 and Jamal Lewis in 2000. [10]

In the 2011 season, Starks led the Packers in rushing yards with 578. However, Starks utilized a physical style of play which exposed him to injuries. Starks missed three games with an ankle injury that year. [11]

In the 2012 season, Starks was plagued by turf toe in September and a bone bruise in December. [11] By the end of the season, he managed only 71 carries in six games. [12]

Starks lined up at running back for the Packers in 2013 James Starks 44 at Green Bay running back Dec 2013.jpg
Starks lined up at running back for the Packers in 2013

Starks performed adequately in limited action during the 2013 season. On September 15, 2013, against the Washington Redskins, Starks rushed for over 100 yards in a game for the first time in his career. His 115 yards on ten carries marked the first time a Packers player had topped 100 yards since Brandon Jackson in 2010. [13] In the following game, Starks exited with a knee injury and would miss the following three games. [14] Capitalizing on Starks's injuries, Packers rookie running back Eddie Lacy became the team's star running back. [15]

Between various lower body injuries, Starks missed 29 games and played in only 35 in his first four seasons in the NFL. [11]

Prior to the 2014 season, Starks and the Packers agreed on a two-year contract worth $3.165 million with the expectation that he would be the backup to Eddie Lacy. [16] After missing so much time due to injury, Starks adjusted his style of play to be more conservative, evading tackles instead of absorbing or breaking them. As a result, he played the first two full seasons of his career, managing to appear in all 32 games of his two-year contract. [11]

During the 2015 season, starter Eddie Lacy's playing time decreased due to issues with conditioning and his violations of the team's curfew. Lacy's diminished workload and Starks's continued health contributed to Starks receiving four starts during the season and registering career high totals in rushing yards, receiving yards and touchdowns. [11] [17]

In March 2016, after visiting with the New England Patriots, Starks, an unrestricted free agent, agreed to a two-year contract to return to the Packers. [17] On October 16, 2016, Starks, who had been second on Green Bay's depth chart behind Eddie Lacy, underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. [18] Starks also dealt with a family death about the same time as the surgery. To compound his 2016 troubles, he was involved in a car crash on Monday, December 12 and went into concussion protocol, missing the next game. [19]

On February 7, 2017, Starks was released by the Packers after seven seasons with a non-football injury designation. [20] [21]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSRushingReceivingFumbles
AttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2010 GB 30291013.51602157.512000
2011 GB 1321335784.3401292167.417021
2012 GB 62712553.62214317.89010
2013 GB 131894935.541310898.923110
2014 GB 160853333.9412181407.828010
2015 GB 1641486014.1652433929.130353
2016 GB 94631452.3110191347.131210
Total76136182,5064.16591251,0178.1316114
Source: NFL.com

Postseason

YearTeamGPGSRushingReceivingFumbles
AttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2010 GB 44813153.92713155.08000
2011 GB 106437.22904246.012000
2013 GB 105295.810011313.013000
2014 GB 2010606.0320100.00000
2015 GB 2019764.02216162.76000
Total1041215234.332215684.513000
Source: pro-football-reference.com

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XLV</span> 2011 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl XLV was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Green Bay Packers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2010 season. The Packers defeated the Steelers 31–25. The game was played on February 6, 2011, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the first time the Super Bowl was played in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Flynn (American football)</span> American football player (born 1985)

Matthew Clayton Flynn is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft. Flynn was a member of the Packers when they won Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, and New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Grant (running back)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Ryan Brett Grant is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL). Grant played college football at Notre Dame where he rushed for over 1,000 yards in his only year as the starting running back. He originally signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2005 but never played a game for them. Shortly before the 2007 season, Grant was traded to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a future sixth-round draft pick. He would go on to play for the Packers for six seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Jackson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1985)

Brandon Lamar Jackson is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. He later won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Bulls football</span> Football team for the State University of New York at Buffalo

The Buffalo Bulls football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University at Buffalo located in the U.S. state of New York. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo's first football team was fielded in 1894. The team plays its home games at the 25,000+ seat UB Stadium on University at Buffalo's north campus in Amherst, New York. The Bulls are coached by Pete Lembo.

The 2009 International Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Connecticut Huskies (UConn) and the Buffalo Bulls at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on January 3, 2009. The game was the final contest of the 2008 NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision football season for both teams, and ended in a 38–20 victory for Connecticut. UConn represented the Big East Conference in the game; Buffalo entered as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Bulaga</span> American football player (born 1989)

Bryan Joseph Bulaga is an American former professional football player who was a offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Bulaga was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. He won Super Bowl XLV with the team over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Green Bay Packers season</span> Season in franchise history

The 2010 Green Bay Packers season was the 92nd season overall and their 90th season in the National Football League (NFL). Although they finished with only a respectable 10–6 record, good for a second-place finish in the NFC North, the Packers never lost a game by more than four points, and never trailed by more than seven the entire season, becoming the only team since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to accomplish this. All six of their regular season losses were by a combined 20 points. They entered the playoffs as the NFC's sixth seed. After defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 21–16 in the wild-card round, the Atlanta Falcons 48–21 in the Divisional round, and long time rivals Chicago Bears 21–14 in the NFC Championship, the team advanced to Super Bowl XLV in which they faced the AFC's 2nd seed Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers defeated the Steelers 31–25 to win their fourth Super Bowl and 13th NFL championship. The Packers became the second overall team after the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, and the first NFC team, to win the Super Bowl as a sixth seed, as well as becoming the second NFC team to win three straight road playoff games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Masthay</span> American football player (born 1987)

Timothy James Masthay is a former American football punter who played for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kentucky. Masthay was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He later won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers over his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Masthay was nicknamed "Ginger Wolverine" by his Packers teammates for his long red sideburns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Lacy</span> American football player (born 1990)

Edward Darwin Lacy Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was a member of three BCS National Championship teams in the 2009, 2011, and 2012 seasons. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knile Davis</span> American football player (born 1991)

Knile Rashaad Davis is a former American football running back. He played college football at Arkansas and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He has also had brief stints with the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Branden Oliver</span> American football player (born 1991)

Branden Oliver is a former American football running back. He played college football at Buffalo and signed with the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He played in the NFL for the Chargers and in the Alliance of American Football for the Salt Lake Stallions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jared Abbrederis</span> American football player (born 1990)

Jared Ryan Abbrederis is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Wisconsin and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He was also a member of the Detroit Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. J. Yeldon</span> American football player (born 1993)

Timothy Antonio "T. J." Yeldon Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Green Bay Packers season</span> NFL team season

The 2013 season was the Green Bay Packers' 95th season overall, 93rd in the National Football League (NFL) and eighth under head coach Mike McCarthy. This for first time since 1998 Donald Driver was not on the opening day roster and for first time since 2005 Greg Jennings and Charles Woodson was not on the opening day roster. The Packers came into the 2013 season looking to win the NFC North for the 3rd year in a row. They came off a 45–31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs the previous season. The Packers started the 2013 season in a rematch with the San Francisco 49ers, to whom they lost 34-28. After winning their home opener against the Redskins, Green Bay lost 34–30 in Cincinnati to the Cincinnati Bengals after holding a 30–14 lead in the 3rd quarter. Following the loss in Cincinnati, the Packers won 4 games in a row to sit at 5–2 before losing a Monday Night game at home to the Chicago Bears, 27–20. In that game, the Packers lost star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a broken collarbone in the 1st quarter. He would be replaced by backups Scott Tolzien and Matt Flynn during recovery. In Week 12, the Packers tied the Minnesota Vikings 26–26; it was Green Bay's first tie since 1987.

Samuel Kofi Barrington is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at South Florida, and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Barrington has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, and Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Green Bay Packers season</span> NFL Green Bay Packers season

The 2014 Green Bay Packers season was the franchise's 96th season overall, the 94th in the National Football League (NFL), and the ninth under head coach Mike McCarthy. The team tied with four other teams for a league-best 12 wins and 4 losses, while also adding a fourth consecutive NFC North division title. The club went undefeated at home for the first time since 2011. They also led the league in scoring, with 486 points, then the second-most in franchise history. It marked the first time since the 2009 season that the team had a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers, and a 1,000-yard rusher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ty Montgomery</span> American football player (born 1993)

Ty Anthony Montgomery II is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal, earning consensus All-American honors in 2013. Montgomery was selected as a wide receiver by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft. In 2016, he changed positions to running back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Ripkowski</span> American football player (born 1992)

Aaron Randal Ripkowski is a former American football fullback. He played college football at Oklahoma, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Jackson (gridiron football)</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Don Xzaviar Jackson is an American professional gridiron football running back who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Nevada. Jackson was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and has also been a member of the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

References

  1. "Bulls lose Starks to shoulder injury". ESPN.com. August 25, 2009. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  2. Brand, J. David (March 17, 2015). "Catching up with Buffalo Bulls football great Justin Winters at St. Vincent Pallotti". UBBullRun.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  3. "NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - James Starks". NFL.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  4. "James Starks - Buffalo, RB : 2010 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  5. "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  6. "Packers sign three draft picks". Packers.com. June 23, 2010. Archived from the original on July 9, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  7. "Packers place three players on reserve/PUP, Porter on injured reserve". Packers.com. August 31, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  8. "Packers activate RB Starks, release LB Francois". Packers.com. November 9, 2010. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  9. "Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers - February 6th, 2011". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  10. ""Super Season" kicks off" (PDF). NFLCommunications.com. January 7, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Wood, Ryan (January 29, 2016). "James Starks 'being smarter,' staying healthy". PackersNews.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  12. Silverstein, Tom (July 27, 2013). "James Starks resolves to stay healthy". JSOnline.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  13. Katzowitz, Josh (September 15, 2013). "James Starks has first 100-yard rushing day for Packers since 2010". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  14. Dunne, Tyler (June 20, 2014). "James Starks' No. 1 goal: Stay healthy this year". JSOnline.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  15. Morgan, Chris (January 7, 2014). "2013 Packers: surmounting injuries, Eddie Lacy's bright future". NewYork.CBSLocal.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  16. McGinn, Bob (March 20, 2014). "James Starks' deal is worth $3.165 million". JSOnline.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  17. 1 2 Alper, Josh (March 18, 2016). "James Starks returns to Packers". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  18. "Packers' James Starks: Has surgery on torn meniscus". CBSSports.com. October 16, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  19. "Packers' James Starks in concussion protocol after car accident" . Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  20. "Packers release RB James Starks". Packers.com. February 7, 2017.
  21. Bergman, Jeremy (February 7, 2017). "Packers release running back James Starks". NFL.com.