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{{Short description|American football player (born 1986)}}
{{Infobox NFLactive
|name=James Starks
{{distinguish|Jim Starks}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
|image=
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
|width=
{{Infobox NFL biography
|caption=
| name = James Starks
|college=[[Buffalo Bulls]]
| image = James Starks.jpg
|currentteam=Green Bay Packers
| image_size =
|currentnumber=--
| alt =
|currentposition=[[Running Back]]
| number = 44
|class=Senior
| caption = Starks in 2011
|major=Sociology
| position = [[Running back]]
|birthdate={{birth date and age|1986|2|25}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|2|25}}
|birthplace=Niagara Falls, New York
| birth_place = [[Niagara Falls, New York]], U.S.
|heightft=6
| height_ft = 6
|heightin=2
| height_in = 2
|weight=211
| weight_lb = 218
|highschool=[[Niagara Falls High School|Niagara Falls HS]]
| high_school = [[Niagara Falls High School|Niagara Falls]]
|pastschools=<nowiki></nowiki>
* [[Buffalo Bulls football|Buffalo]] (2005–present)
| college = [[Buffalo Bulls football|Buffalo]] (2005–2009)
| draftyear = 2010
|highlights=<nowiki></nowiki>
| draftround = 6
* Second Team All-MAC (2006,2007)
| draftpick = 193
* First-team All-MAC (2008)
| pastteams =
* Honorable Mention All-American ([[Sports Illustrated]])(2008)
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2016}})
|espn=
| status =
| highlights =
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XLV|XLV]])
* First-team All-[[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] (2008)
* 2× Second-team All-MAC (2006, 2007)
| statlabel1 = [[Rushing yards]]
| statvalue1 = 2,506
| statlabel2 = [[Average|Rushing average]]
| statvalue2 = 4.1
| statlabel3 = [[Touchdown|Rushing touchdowns]]
| statvalue3 = 9
| statlabel4 = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue4 = 125
| statlabel5 = [[Receiving yards]]
| statvalue5 = 1,017
| statlabel6 = [[Touchdown|Receiving touchdowns]]
| statvalue6 = 6
| nfl-new = jamesstarks/497206
}}
}}
'''James Darell Starks''' (born February 25, 1986 in [[Niagara Falls, New York]]) is an [[American football]] [[running back]] for the Green Bay Packers. He was selected in the sixth round with the 193rd pick. Starks became the first [[University at Buffalo, The State University of New York|University at Buffalo]] freshman to earn All-[[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] honors in 2006. He is also Buffalo’s first [[Division_I#Football_Bowl_Subdivision|FBS]] 1,000-yard rusher in a season, setting the record in 2007.


'''James Darell Starks''' (born February 25, 1986) is an American former professional [[American football|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 football|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]].
==Early Years==

Starks earned All-Western New York accolades in football<ref>[http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/football/news/ftb03-23-2005-prospectus.pdf 2005 Buffalo Bulls Spring Prospectus]</ref> playing [[quarterback]] at [[Niagara Falls High School]]. He also played on the school's nationally-ranked [[basketball]] team with his [[cousin]], [[Jonny Flynn]], winning the New York state public high school title as well as the federation title in 2005.
==Early years==
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 meters|100-meter dash]] time.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

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


==College career==
==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 [[Mid-American Conference|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=4421472|title=Bulls lose Starks to shoulder injury|work=ESPN.com|date=August 25, 2009|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref> He is also a member of [[Phi Beta Sigma]] fraternity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ubbullrun.com/2015/3/17/8226911/catching-up-with-buffalo-bulls-football-great-justin-winters-st-vincent-pallotti|title=Catching up with Buffalo Bulls football great Justin Winters at St. Vincent Pallotti|last=Brand|first=J. David|work=UBBullRun.com|date=March 17, 2015|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref>
Starks enrolled at the University at Buffalo to play football and was [[redshirted]] in [[2005]]. In [[2006]], Starks made a huge impact on the Bulls offense. In his first game, he scored on an 18-yard run in overtime to help the Bulls win, 9-3, in the season opener against the [[Temple Owls football|Temple Owls]].<ref>[http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/football/news/ftb08-31-2006-temple.shtml Starks Sparks Bulls To Victory]</ref>, giving [[Turner Gill]] his first victory as a head coach. Starks became the first Buffalo freshman to earn All-MAC honors in 2006<ref>[http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/football/news/ftb11-28-2006-starks.shtml Starks Earns Second-Team Conference Honors]</ref>. In [[2007]], Starks started every game at running back and rushed for 1103 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning another Second Team All-MAC honor as Buffalo finished the season co-champions of the MAC East division. In [[2008]], Starks had an even better season, rushing for 1384 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was also the second-leading receiver on the team with 52 catches and one touchdown. Starks led Buffalo to their first conference championship and first bowl appearance in school history. He was named First Team All-MAC following the season. In 2009, Starks was sidelined for his senior season after suffering a labral tear in his shoulder<ref>[http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090825/SPORTS/90825014/1007/UB+loses+Starks+to+shoulder+injury UB loses Starks to shoulder injury]</ref>, missing the entire season.


===Statistics===
James Starks was drafted by the Green Bay Packers to become a machine running back in the NFL. He will one day rewrite the NFL history books. Once his knees give out from running too much, the Packers will convert him to Quarterback to rewrite the Passing records. Once his arm is thrown out he will moved to kicker and then Punter. After Punter he will be successful at the Packers head coach and go on to win 3 more Super Bowls along with the 2 he won with the Packers during his playing Years. After head coach, he will replace Ted Thompson as GM. After the serving as GM he will become Commissioner of the NFL and then transfer to MLB. After that he will serve 3 terms as President of the US and sucessfully bring peace to the middle East.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! colspan="12" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Buffalo Bulls|color=white}};" |'''Buffalo Bulls'''
|-
! rowspan="2"|Year !! rowspan="2"|GP !! colspan="5"|Rushing !! colspan="5"|Receiving
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[2006 Buffalo Bulls football team|2006]]
| 12 || 175 || 704 || 4.0 || 54 || 6 || 34 || 226 || 6.6 || 30 || 0
|-
! [[2007 Buffalo Bulls football team|2007]]
| 12 || 251 || 1,103 || 4.4 || '''92''' || 12 || 41 || 311 || '''7.6''' || '''74''' || '''2'''
|-
! [[2008 Buffalo Bulls football team|2008]]
| 12 || '''272''' || '''1,333''' || '''4.9''' || 66 || '''16''' || '''52''' || '''361''' || 6.9 || 65 || 1
|-
! Total || 36 || 698 || 3,140 || 4.5 || 92 || 34 || 127 || 898 || 7.1 || 74 || 3
|-
| colspan="13"|<small>Source: [http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/james-starks-player-stats FoxSports.com]</small>
|}


==Professional career==
James Starks, the man, the myth, the legend . . .
{{external media
| video1 = [http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/09000d5d816d1ee7/2010-combine-workout-james-starks Starks's NFL Combine workout]
}}
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 1/8
| weight = 218
| dash = 4.50
| ten split = 1.61
| twenty split = 2.69
| shuttle = 4.23
| cone drill = 6.89
| vertical = 36.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 11
| bench = 15
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 33 3/4
| hand span = 9 1/2
| note = All values are from [[NFL Scouting Combine|NFL Combine]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/james-starks/32005354-4158-3786-1d77-fa36ed1048c7|title=NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - James Starks|work=NFL.com|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=72791&DraftYear=2010|title=James Starks - Buffalo, RB : 2010 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile|work=NFLDraftScout.com|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref>
}}

Starks was selected in the sixth round (193rd overall) by the [[Green Bay Packers]] in the [[2010 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2010 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2010/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> On June 23, 2010, he signed a contract with the Packers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www0.nfl.packers.com/news/releases/2010/06/23/1/|title=Packers sign three draft picks|work=Packers.com|date=June 23, 2010|access-date=October 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709131808/http://www0.nfl.packers.com/news/releases/2010/06/23/1/|archive-date=July 9, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Starks was placed on reserve/[[physically unable to perform]] on August 31, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/packers-place-three-players-on-reservepup-porter-on-injured-reserve/6611c90b-84e6-471f-93ba-d0a4f4342a1d|title=Packers place three players on reserve/PUP, Porter on injured reserve|work=Packers.com|date=August 31, 2010|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref> On November 9, 2010, he was activated from the physically unable to perform list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/packers-activate-rb-starks-release-lb-francois/b0c9fa2b-ad77-404a-b58c-712581ed0df4|title=Packers activate RB Starks, release LB Francois|work=Packers.com|date=November 9, 2010|access-date=October 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126182354/http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Packers-Activate-RB-Starks-Release-LB-Francois/b0c9fa2b-ad77-404a-b58c-712581ed0df4|archive-date=November 26, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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|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|date=October 2016}}

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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201102060pit.htm |title=Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers - February 6th, 2011 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=December 15, 2017}}</ref> He ended the postseason with the third-most rushing yards for a rookie running back in a single playoffs behind [[Timmy Smith]] in [[1987–88 NFL playoffs|1987]] and [[Jamal Lewis (American football)|Jamal Lewis]] in [[2000–01 NFL playoffs|2000]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nflcommunications.com/documents/2015%20football%20information/other/playoff%20preview%202015.pdf|title="Super Season" kicks off|work=NFLCommunications.com|date=January 7, 2016|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Smarter">{{cite web|url=http://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2016/01/28/james-starks-being-smarter-staying-healthy/79465490/|title=James Starks 'being smarter,' staying healthy|last=Wood|first=Ryan|work=PackersNews.com|date=January 29, 2016|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref>

In the 2012 season, Starks was plagued by [[turf toe]] in September and a [[bone bruise]] in December.<ref name="Smarter"/> By the end of the season, he managed only 71 carries in six games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.jsonline.com/sports/packers/james-starks-resolves-to-stay-healthy-b9963158z1-217265251.html|title=James Starks resolves to stay healthy|last=Silverstein|first=Tom|work=JSOnline.com|date=July 27, 2013|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:James Starks 44 at Green Bay running back Dec 2013.jpg|thumb|left|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 (American football)|Brandon Jackson]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/james-starks-has-first-100-yard-rushing-day-for-packers-since-2010/|title=James Starks has first 100-yard rushing day for Packers since 2010|last=Katzowitz|first=Josh|work=CBSSports.com|date=September 15, 2013|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref> In the following game, Starks exited with a knee injury and would miss the following three games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.jsonline.com/sports/packers/james-starks-no-1-goal-stay-healthy-this-year-b99295689z1-264069401.html|title=James Starks' No. 1 goal: Stay healthy this year|last=Dunne|first=Tyler|work=JSOnline.com|date=June 20, 2014|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref> Capitalizing on Starks's injuries, Packers rookie running back [[Eddie Lacy]] became the team's star running back.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/01/07/2013-packers-surmounting-injuries-eddie-lacys-bright-future/|title=2013 Packers: surmounting injuries, Eddie Lacy's bright future|last=Morgan|first=Chris|work=NewYork.CBSLocal.com|date=January 7, 2014|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref>

Between various lower body injuries, Starks missed 29 games and played in only 35 in his first four seasons in the NFL.<ref name="Smarter"/>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.jsonline.com/sports/packers/james-starks-deal-is-worth-3165-million-b99229794z1-251347841.html|title=James Starks' deal is worth $3.165 million|last=McGinn|first=Bob|work=JSOnline.com|date=March 20, 2014|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref> After missing so much time due to injury, Starks adjusted his style of play to be more conservative, evading [[Tackle (football move)#American and Canadian football|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.<ref name="Smarter"/>

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.<ref name="Smarter"/><ref name="Returns"/>

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.<ref name="Returns">{{cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/03/18/james-starks-returns-to-packers/|title=James Starks returns to Packers|last=Alper|first=Josh|work=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com|date=March 18, 2016|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref> 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 (anatomy)|meniscus]] in his knee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/packers-james-starks-has-surgery-on-torn-meniscus/|title=Packers' James Starks: Has surgery on torn meniscus|work=CBSSports.com|date=October 16, 2016|access-date=October 26, 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/packers-james-starks-in-concussion-protocol-after-car-accident-172949211.html|title=Packers' James Starks in concussion protocol after car accident|access-date=December 19, 2016}}</ref>

On February 7, 2017, Starks was released by the Packers after seven seasons with a non-football injury designation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Packers release RB James Starks|url=http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-press-release/article-1/Packers-release-RB-James-Starks/6f1114b7-0e9b-4791-bb2a-8693fb0e331f|website=Packers.com|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Packers release running back James Starks|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000784376/article/packers-release-running-back-james-starks|author=Bergman, Jeremy|website=NFL.com|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Year !! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|GP !! rowspan="2"|GS !! colspan="5"|Rushing !! colspan="5"|Receiving !! colspan="2"|Fumbles
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! Lost
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 3 || 0 || 29 || 101 || 3.5 || 16 || 0 || 2 || 15 || 7.5 || 12 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 13 || 2 || 133 || 578 || 4.3 || 40 || 1 || 29 || 216 || 7.4 || 17 || 0 || 2 || 1
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2012 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 6 || 2 || 71 || 255 || 3.6 || 22 || 1 || 4 || 31 || 7.8 || 9 || 0 || 1 || 0
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2013 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 13 || 1 || 89 || 493 || 5.5 || 41 || 3 || 10 || 89 || 8.9 || 23 || 1 || 1 || 0
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 16 || 0 || 85 || 333 || 3.9 || 41 || 2 || 18 || 140 || 7.8 || 28 || 0 || 1 || 0
|-
! [[2015 NFL season|2015]] !! [[2015 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 16 || 4 || 148 || 601 || 4.1 || 65 || 2 || 43 || 392 || 9.1 || 30 || 3 || 5 || 3
|-
! [[2016 NFL season|2016]] !! [[2016 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 9 || 4 || 63 || 145 || 2.3 || 11 || 0 || 19 || 134 || 7.1 || 31 || 2 || 1 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"|Total || 76 || 13 || 618 || 2,506 || 4.1 || 65 || 9 || 125 || 1,017 || 8.1 || 31 || 6 || 11 || 4
|-
| colspan="16"|<small>Source: [http://www.nfl.com/player/jamesstarks/497206/careerstats NFL.com]</small>
|}

===Postseason===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Year !! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|GP !! rowspan="2"|GS !! colspan="5"|Rushing !! colspan="5"|Receiving !! colspan="2"|Fumbles
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! Lost
|-
! [[2010–11 NFL playoffs|2010]] !! [[2010 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 4 || 4 || 81 || 315 || 3.9 || 27 || 1 || 3 || 15 || 5.0 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2011–12 NFL playoffs|2011]] !! [[2011 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 1 || 0 || 6 || 43 || 7.2 || 29 || 0 || 4 || 24 || 6.0 || 12 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2013–14 NFL playoffs|2013]] !! [[2013 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 1 || 0 || 5 || 29 || 5.8 || 10 || 0 || 1 || 13 || 13.0 || 13 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2014–15 NFL playoffs|2014]] !! [[2014 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 2 || 0 || 10 || 60 || 6.0 || 32 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2015–16 NFL playoffs|2015]] !! [[2015 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 2 || 0 || 19 || 76 || 4.0 || 22 || 1 || 6 || 16 || 2.7 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"|Total || 10 || 4 || 121 || 523 || 4.3 || 32 || 2 || 15 || 68 || 4.5 || 13 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| colspan="16"|<small>Source: [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StarJa00.htm pro-football-reference.com]</small>
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
Green Bay Packer


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/football/roster/starks.shtml Buffalo Bulls Bio]
* [http://www.packers.com/team/roster/james-starks/a52b27c4-0792-4dd1-be0d-2d0dcd8b69bc Green Bay Packers bio]
* {{Football stats |nfl=497206 |espn=13214 |cbs=1123431 |yahoo=24169 |pfr=S/StarJa00 }}

{{Packers2010DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XLV}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Starks, James}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Starks, James}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Niagara Falls, New York]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Niagara Falls, New York]]
[[Category:Players of American football from New York]]
[[Category:Players of American football from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bulls football players]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bulls football players]]

Revision as of 01:48, 12 April 2024

Not to be confused with Jim Starks.

James Starks
refer to caption
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

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.

Early years

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]

Statistics

Buffalo Bulls
Year GP Rushing Receiving
Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
2006 12 175 704 4.0 54 6 34 226 6.6 30 0
2007 12 251 1,103 4.4 92 12 41 311 7.6 74 2
2008 12 272 1,333 4.9 66 16 52 361 6.9 65 1
Total 36 698 3,140 4.5 92 34 127 898 7.1 74 3
Source: FoxSports.com

Professional career

External videos
video icon Starks's NFL Combine workout
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+1⁄8 in
(1.88 m) 		218 lb
(99 kg) 		33+3⁄4 in
(0.86 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.50 s 1.61 s 2.69 s 4.23 s 6.89 s 36.0 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

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

Year Team GP GS Rushing Receiving Fumbles
Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2010 GB 3 0 29 101 3.5 16 0 2 15 7.5 12 0 0 0
2011 GB 13 2 133 578 4.3 40 1 29 216 7.4 17 0 2 1
2012 GB 6 2 71 255 3.6 22 1 4 31 7.8 9 0 1 0
2013 GB 13 1 89 493 5.5 41 3 10 89 8.9 23 1 1 0
2014 GB 16 0 85 333 3.9 41 2 18 140 7.8 28 0 1 0
2015 GB 16 4 148 601 4.1 65 2 43 392 9.1 30 3 5 3
2016 GB 9 4 63 145 2.3 11 0 19 134 7.1 31 2 1 0
Total 76 13 618 2,506 4.1 65 9 125 1,017 8.1 31 6 11 4
Source: NFL.com

Postseason

Year Team GP GS Rushing Receiving Fumbles
Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2010 GB 4 4 81 315 3.9 27 1 3 15 5.0 8 0 0 0
2011 GB 1 0 6 43 7.2 29 0 4 24 6.0 12 0 0 0
2013 GB 1 0 5 29 5.8 10 0 1 13 13.0 13 0 0 0
2014 GB 2 0 10 60 6.0 32 0 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2015 GB 2 0 19 76 4.0 22 1 6 16 2.7 6 0 0 0
Total 10 4 121 523 4.3 32 2 15 68 4.5 13 0 0 0
Source: pro-football-reference.com

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. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b 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.

External links

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