Kyle Hamilton was a fast learner as a rookie, but he thinks Malaki Starks is making a quicker transition.
That assessment from an All-Pro safety like Hamilton speaks volumes about Starks and is excellent news for Baltimore’s secondary. Starks is expected to start immediately next to Hamilton, who remembers his first training camp well, and how difficult it was to play fast while learning the defense.
Starks seems to be smoothly absorbing everything being thrown at him, and Hamilton is impressed through three days of camp.
“He’s super-talented. I honestly think he’s miles ahead of where I was at that point,” Hamilton said. “Once it all clicks for him, he’s going to be one of the best in the league.
“He does amazing stuff without even trying and probably doesn’t even know that he’s doing it. I think he knows the playbook more than I did, he’s confident out there. He’s just so willing to learn.”
Starks appreciated the compliment from Hamilton but will keep striving to improve. The rookie from Georgia had an interception on Thursday and another solid day on Friday. He’s starting to make more plays on the ball, showing his growing comfort in the defense.
“I think [Hamilton is] being generous,” Starks said. “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. Being able to learn from him has been huge.
“Just being able to be in that DB room. You look over to your left, you see Kyle. You look over to your right, you see Marlon (Humphrey). You see look over to you left, you see Nate (Wiggins), you see Jaire (Alexander), you see everybody. When they do something, it makes you want to up your level of play.”
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