Malaki Starks reflects back on first career game against Oregon, explains KJ Bolden's development

Mal a couple days into practice this week just what have you seen from the defense as you guys get ready and GE up for S um I think uh we we put a big emphasis on U you know just attacking the ball and being very aggressive during camp and I think it's just kind of carried over into this week and it's just a big emphasis and I think this is something that we're getting better at day by day well it was no two years ago you getting ready to govern the B to play your first game against Oregon you got some freshman teammates kind of going through the same thing you did two years ago kind of what's been your advice to them do they seem right there ready for the moment and kind of what have you kind of been telling them leading up sat yeah um it's crazy cuz like you never really know if you're ready until till you're in the moment uh you know you put in the preparation and um you have trust and faith and the work that you put in to prepare you for the moment but uh you know everybody everybody seems to be doing good and you know I just been telling the same thing people were telling me you know just take day by day play by play uh you know see a little don't see too much and you know enjoy it you know it's um you only get one shot and just enjoy it while you got it and just be calm and you know you're not out there by yourself you know you got you got plenty other guys with you so you're not on when you do think back to that Oregon game you know obviously that was your first ever Career College game and you ended up making a big play in that game but just what were someone's thoughts right through your head that morning when do you think back to it um really I was just I just wanted to get in um uh that that was really about it I just wanted to go out there and play um you know I I didn't want to let down the team you know when I had the chance to get in but uh just trying to enjoy it you know I talked to my mom that morning and she told me you know you only get one chance to be a freshman so enjoy it while you got it and you know I remember waking up that morning and sitting at the table with Chris and Dan and everybody and you know eating um and just kind of really just being in the moment uh not let being where my feet are not getting too far ahead of myself and you know it's kind of the same message I being related to them yeah what are you see out of KJ bman really pass especially lead up to his first here um he's definitely grown since he's been here and I said that like for all the Freshman you know uh they they they've definitely taking a step in their game and you know this this class is very talented with a bunch of talented guys so just um just to see him he's like a sponge you know he just wants to learn grow uh just to see the stws that he's taking and you know everybody else in his class as well I mean it's just amazing to watch I like how you guys are breaking in some new starters in the secondary just how confident are you in this entire secondary and what you guys are cap um I'm very confident you know uh like I said earlier you know you you put in the work and the preparation to prepare you uh for the moment and you know that that's what you got to fall back on we like to say bleed in training so you don't bleed in battle and um you know we uh we work through the ups and downs and stuff like that but I feel very confident now Folks at Jefferson recting for you in Georgia or Sammy and Clemson and have you been in touch with him last few week um I think it's I think it's both um I think you got a few both sides they uh both one us do very well um and yeah uh I talked to him about two weeks ago um you know I got a close relationship with his dad um so uh great family great kid I'm excited to see what he's going to do um and what he's going to put on so I'm very excited for him how when we talked to Carson yesterday he talked about the defense and going up against you guys and and said he felt like you guys on defense could be really special this year do you see that yourself what you've gotten to see through this offseason and getting ready for another year yeah um I mean I really do like I said we got a bunch of talent you know a bunch of guys who who want to be here who want to buy into the process who want to do the right thing so just um you know when you have a group like when you have a group of guys like that I mean I think the sky's a limit no I think we know that we just got to keep our head done and keep working Mal what kind of difference have you noticed with the inh helmet Communications for defensive communication and are you one of the guys with the coaches in your year yeah uh I mean I think it's huge um I didn't even know it was a thing like until I was in practice one day and I just kind of heard it uh kind of threw me off but uh um I mean like I said I think it's huge and I I've had it a couple days we kind of rotate to see what's going to happen whatever but um you know it's it's been a huge help um just having that that earing your voice and you know just trying to figure out you know you know do I say this do I say that what's too much to talk about like when do I stop talking so he can go play or whatever like how much do I need to listen to um you know so it's it's been a it's been a process for sure but um I think I think it's a good thing for everybody especially the offense anything else from Mal all right thank you sir thanks