Justin Wade Starling, 20, was killed Saturday night in an auto accident in Starke.

Starling was eastbound on CR 230 in Bradford County at 8:50 p.m. when his 2001 Chevy SUV traveled onto the south shoulder then spun when Starling attempted to reenter the roadway, according to FHP reports. The vehicle traveled onto the north shoulder and struck two trees, said FHP. Starling reportedly wasn’t wearing a seat belt.

Starling started for the Suwannee Bulldogs from 2005-08. Along with Lee Laxton, he anchored a powerful linebacking corps.

Former Suwannee High School head football coach Tommy Chambers said Starling was the kind of athlete coaches long remember.

“He symbolized the type of athlete you loved to coach because he hated to lose,” Chambers said. “Justin was a very, very tough competitor.”

Starling suffered a high ankle sprain during a loss to Trinity Catholic in 2006 and was told he’d be out 4-6 weeks. The next week he was back on the field, ready to face the Baker County Wildcats. On the sideline Starling told the trainer tending to his ankle to “tape it tight.” He led the ‘Dogs that night with 17 tackles.

On Monday, at the close of the first day of fall football practice at Suwannee High, senior lineman Alex Falleck led the team in a prayer for Starling and his family.

Starling, #53 on the field, graduated in 2008. He had recently relocated to Starke.

Michael Burrus, one of Starling’s closest friends, remembered him fondly.

“Whenever someone was feeling down and out, Justin would come out with one of his cheesy jokes and brighten the mood of anyone that happened to be in earshot,” Burrus wrote in an email.

Starling’s Facebook page was flooded with messages from family and friends. One wrote, “Hope they have a penthouse up there in heaven ‘cause nothing but the best for the Mad Dawg.”

Said another, “You left us with happy hearts and lots of memories too but we never wanted memories … Justin, all we wanted was you.”