2025 Panini Score Malaki Starks Rookie Card

This is a 2025 Panini Score rookie trading card featuring Malaki Starks, a safety for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, shown in his team uniform (red jersey #24, silver pants, and red helmet). The card follows the classic 2.5 x 3.5 inch standard trading card dimension and is constructed of thick cardstock with a glossy finish. The design features a prominent blue border, with the '2025 Rookie' and 'Score' logos at the top and a 'Rookie Card RC' shield in the upper right. At the bottom, Starks’ name and position are clearly printed in white sans-serif font against a blue background, accompanied by a small illustrative graphic of a Baltimore Ravens helmet in the bottom right corner, indicating his professional team projection or affiliation. The card is currently housed in a protective soft plastic sleeve (penny sleeve) and a rigid top-loader for preservation. Regarding condition, it appears to be in 'Near Mint' to 'Mint' state upon visual inspection: corners look sharp, the centering appears balanced, and the surface shows no obvious scratches, creases, or manufacturing defects. This card represents a modern 'pre-draft' release, common in the Score brand's early-season collegiate-focused sets.

I have examined the digital representation of the 2025 Panini Score Malaki Starks Rookie Card. Based on a visual inspection, the card appears to be in Near Mint-Mint (NM-MT) condition. The corners show no visible whitening, the blue borders appear free of significant chipping—which is common for this high-gloss set—and the centering is visually balanced at approximately 50/50. This specific card represents a 'pre-draft' collegiate issue, which typical of the Score brand, precedes the release of NFL-licensed 'pro-uniform' sets. The market for collegiate-licensed cards is generally softer than NFL-licensed products (such as Prizm or Optic). As a defensive player (Safety), Starks typically commands a lower premium than offensive skill positions like Quarterbacks or Wide Receivers. Current market comparables for base 'Score' rookie cards of high-round defensive prospects generally fluctuate between $5 and $12 in the raw market. Rarity is low, as Score is a mass-produced entry-level product. Limitations: This appraisal is based solely on digital images. Without a physical inspection, I cannot verify the surface integrity (such as hidden micro-scratches or wax stains) or confirm the exact cardstock thickness. Authenticators would require an in-person examination under 10x magnification to confirm the rosette printing pattern and UV light testing to verify the paper stock's reaction. For full authentication and valuation stability, submission to a third-party grader like PSA or BGS is recommended to confirm the grade.