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Kendrick is a two-time, first-team National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-America wide receiver joining the Spartans this fall. Starling played his junior college football at Navarro Junior College (Coach Chuck Lawrence) in 1999 and 2000 and set season and career pass receiving records in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference. He is the first player in conference history to cross the 1,000-yard receiving plateau and he did it in each of his two seasons. As a freshman, he caught 59 passes for 1,257 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. He set a conference record with four touchdown receptions in a 1999 game against the Hardin-Simmons junior varsity team.


In 2000, Starling had 52 receptions for 1,048 yards and 10 touchdowns. He set another single-game conference record for longest touchdown reception with a 92-yard scoring play against Kilgore Junior College. Following his junior college career, there were reports he was recruited by schools including Nebraska, Texas, Texas Tech, Florida, Kansas State, New Mexico, Michigan State, Oregon and Arkansas.


Starling eventually signed with Marshall University, where was labeled as "the next Randy Moss." The 2001 Sporting News College Football Yearbook picked him as the top newcomer in the Mid-American Conference, but Starling elected not to continue his college career at the MAC school. Recruited again after the 2001 season, Kansas State and West Virginia were two schools that remained extremely interested in him. A report from Kansas State tabbed Starling as the most talented junior college receiver available.


A 1999 graduate of Marshall (Texas) High School, Kendrick lettered in football (Coach Bill Harper) and track and field. He was an all-district selection as a senior in football. In track and field, he was a sprinter who specialized in the 400-meters and a long-jumper. He had a best time of 46.90 in the 400 meters at the high school level. During his high school days, he was active in the local Boys & Girls Clubs and enjoys participating in community activities. Kendrick was born in Marshall, Texas on December 27, 1979.