Starks Helps Packers Reach Super Bowl

CHICAGO, IL – For the second straight year the University at Buffalo football program will be represented in America's biggest sporting event.

Former Bulls' star running back James Starks rushed for 74 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown to help the Green Bay Packers defeat the Chicago Bears, 21-14, in the NFC Championship game at Soldier Field on Sunday. With the victory the Bulls have now had alumni play in the past two Super Bowls after Jamey Richard, '08, played for the Indianapolis Colts in last year's game.

Starks has burst onto the national scene by becoming the NFL playoffs leading rusher after missing most of the regular season with a hamstring injury. The rookie from Niagara Falls saw action in only three regular season games – including setting a Packers rookie record by gaining 73 yards in his first game – before taking over as the starter in the playoffs. Starks' play has helped the Packers, the No. 6 seed in the NFC, win three straight road playoff games to reach its first Super Bowl since the 1998 season.

In three playoff games, Starks has now rushed for 261 yards and has had over 20 carries in all three playoff games to give the Packers some much-needed offensive balance. In addition, Starks has returned five kickoffs and recorded three receptions for 15 yards in the playoffs.

The rookie holds Buffalo's all-time records for career rushing yards (3,140), rushing touchdowns (34) and total touchdowns (37) in just three seasons. He was a sixth-round draft choice of the Packers last April.

Watch video of his first career NFL touchdown here:

http://www.packers.com/media-center/videos/Big-Play-James-Starks-TD-Run/e5d76d4a-ae71-4f9c-b896-4b5e3e8074d8