During this spring's NFL draft, the Baltimore Ravens used their first-round pick on Georgia safety Malaki Starks. The intention of the pick was always to pair him up with former Notre Dame football superstar Kyle Hamilton. The end goal was an elite duo at the safety position that would help the Ravens have one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Starks is still learning his way around the NFL. However, it took the rookie very little time at all to realize that his teammate was someone he needed to take notes from and emulate.
Ex-Notre Dame football star Kyle Hamilton’s elite IQ becomes blueprint for Starks in Ravens secondary
"There's levels, you know, and Kyle, he's on that top level," Starks said about the former Notre Dame football star on Sunday. "And I think just to be able to learn from him... I think like when I come off, like I always go to him like, hey, like, If this happens, what do you think?"
“@kyledhamilton_’s on that top level... He’s so smart.” @starks_malaki pic.twitter.com/0JJXl2WLvB
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 25, 2025
"When they get in this set, what are you thinking? Just continue to learn from him."
Starks has been impressed with the way that Hamilton sees everything, but also just what the safety knows about the game of football.
"He's so smart. You think you know football until you get around people who know football, and then you realize you don't know that much about football."
Kyle Hamilton has actually been a bit undervalued so far in his NFL career. It feels like the former Notre Dame football star is finally starting to really get his due. Teammates certainly know that he's one of the best around. Opponents really aren't that far behind.