James Starks

James Darell Starks, born on February 25, 1986, in Niagara Falls, New York, established a notable career in Football as a running back. His athletic foundation was built during his time at Niagara Falls High School, where he excelled in both football and track and field. As a high school football player, Starks achieved All-Western New York honors in his senior year, demonstrating his capabilities with over 1,000 rushing yards and 600 passing yards. He continued to develop his skills at the University at Buffalo, playing for the Buffalo Bulls football team from 2006 to 2009. During his college career, Starks achieved a program record of 3,140 career rushing yards and 40 total touchdowns. He recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons as a sophomore and junior, earning Second-team All-MAC honors in 2006 and 2007, and First-team All-MAC in 2008. His college tenure, however, concluded with a shoulder injury that sidelined him for his senior season. He is also a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

Starks’ professional career began when he was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. After signing with the Packers in June 2010, he made his NFL debut on December 5, 2010, against the San Francisco 49ers. A significant early achievement was contributing to the Packers’ Super Bowl XLV victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011, where he rushed for 52 yards. His rookie postseason included breaking the Packers’ rookie post-season record for rushing yards in a single game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he finished the postseason with 315 rushing yards, the third-most for a rookie running back in playoff history. Throughout his seven seasons with the Packers, Starks faced various injuries, including ankle issues, turf toe, and a bone bruise, which affected his playing time in earlier seasons. Despite these challenges, he adapted his playing style to be more conservative, prioritizing evasion over absorbing tackles. This adjustment allowed him to play two full seasons without injury in 2014 and 2015.

During the 2015 season, Starks saw increased playing time, registering career-high totals in rushing yards, receiving yards, and touchdowns. This was partly due to starting running back Eddie Lacy’s conditioning issues. In March 2016, Starks re-signed with the Packers for a two-year, $6 million deal. The 2016 season brought further challenges, including surgery for a torn meniscus in October and a concussion sustained in a car accident in December. He was subsequently released by the Packers on February 7, 2017, with a non-football injury designation, concluding his NFL career. In recognition of his athletic accomplishments, James Starks was announced as an inductee into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.