James Starks
Encyclopedia
James Darell Starks is an American football
running back
for the Green Bay Packers
. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
, (commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB).
. 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. Considered only a 2 star recruit by Rivals.com
, Starks' only scholarship offer came from Buffalo, which he accepted.
fraternity.
Starks was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round—193rd overall—in the 2010 NFL Draft
. He was injured during training camp and was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list. After being activated off the PUP list on November 10, 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
. 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.
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 later met with Niagara Falls mayor Paul Dyster
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
, (commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB).
High school
James attended high school in Niagara Falls, New YorkNiagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
. He ran for 1,048 yards and threw for over 600 yards for the Wolverines of Niagara Falls High School
Niagara Falls High School
Niagara Falls High School is a high school located at 4455 Porter Road in Niagara Falls New York. Niagara Falls High School was established in 2000, with the merging of the "old" Niagara Falls High School and La Salle High School, both located in Niagara Falls...
while earning All-Western New York honors in his senior season. He served as a captain for three years. Considered only a 2 star recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, Starks' only scholarship offer came from Buffalo, which he accepted.
College career
Starks enjoyed a standout career at Buffalo. 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 the nation 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 honors in 2006. He was named to the All-Mac Second Team 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. He is also a member of Phi Beta SigmaPhi Beta Sigma
Phi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...
fraternity.
Green Bay Packers
2010 seasonStarks was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round—193rd overall—in the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. He was injured during training camp and was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list. After being activated off the PUP list on November 10, 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
The National Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two semi-final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the...
. Starks's rookie season finished with a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers to decide the National Football League champion for the 2010 season. The game was held at Cowboys Stadium in...
in which he rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries.
On the weekend before the Super Bowl, the Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
—in his hometown of Niagara Falls, New York—were lit green and gold in his honor. The following Monday, Starks later met with Niagara Falls mayor Paul Dyster
Paul Dyster
Paul A. Dyster is the incumbent mayor of Niagara Falls, New York. He is a Democrat.-Political career:Dyster became a city councilman in 2000 under Mayor Irene Elia...
.