Derrick Barksdale

2025: Third Team All-Sun Belt defensive back Started all 14 games with 12 at nickel and two at cornerback Had 36 tackles (22 solo) to go with 3.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions and 12 pass breakups Ranked tied for third in the Sun Belt in both pass breakups (12) and passes defended (14) Career-high three pass breakups in Sun Belt Football Championship vs. Troy (Dec. 5) Recorded an interception at Texas State (Oct. 28) and vs. App State (Nov. 15) Season-high four tackles with pair of breakups at Marshall (Nov. 8) Also had four stops vs. Louisiana (Oct. 11) Made 2 PBU and a full tackle for loss vs. Weber State (Aug. 30) Made a full TFL also at Louisville (Sept. 5) and at Coastal Carolina (Nov. 29) Made three or more tackles in seven games Preseason Second Team All-Sun Belt defensive back 2024: Boca Raton Bowl Defensive MVP JMU's Unsung Hero Award recipient Started all 13 games at nickel Had 42 tackles (27 solo) to go with 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, two interceptions (one pick-six) and three pass breakups Career highs of seven tackles and 2.0 TFL at North Carolina (Sept. 21) Matched career high with 2.0 TFL, accruing four tackles and a forced fumble vs. Western Kentucky in Boca Raton Bowl (Dec. 18) Registered first career interception with then career-high two pass breakups vs. Ball State (Sept. 28) Had five tackles and an 11-yard pick-six at Georgia Southern (Oct. 19) Made first career sack vs. Southern Miss (Oct. 26) Had four or more tackles in six games 2024-25 Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll 2023: VaSID University Division Second Team All-State kick returner Played in all 13 games, serving as JMU's primary kick returner Returned 15 kickoffs, averaging 21.3 yards per return Had 15 tackles (seven solo) Season-long 41-yard kickoff return at Utah State (Sept. 23) Season-high 112 kickoff-return yards on five attempts vs. Old Dominion (Oct. 28) Had three kickoff returns of at least 28 yards Season-high five tackles at Utah State and vs. Georgia Southern (Oct. 14) Dean's List (Fall 2023) Named to SBC Academic Honor Roll High School: 2022 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas participant 2022 WRHI Tri-County 5A/4A Defensive Player of the Year 2022 Palmetto Champions Upper State Defensive Player of the Year 2021 and 2022 All-State 2022 Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year 2020, 2021 and 2022 All-Region Led South Pointe to 2021 4A state championship and was MVP of title game Also helped Stallions to second round of 4A state playoffs as a sophomore senior High School Blitz Junior Game MVP Team captain Dual-sport athlete who also lettered in basketball Three-time All-Region basketball athlete who scored over 1,000 points and was a three-time Offensive MVP Honor roll student Personal: Son of Derrick and Wakita Barksdale Has a brother, Braelyn Has a sister, Patience His father was a track & field athlete at Winthrop Majoring in sport and recreation management