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Jersey Number 32
DJ Barksdale
- Year:
- Junior
- Position:
- Nickel
- Hometown:
- Rock Hill, S.C.
- High School:
- South Pointe
- Major:
- Sport and Recreation Management
2025:
- Third Team All-Sun Belt defensive back
- JMU's Unsung Hero Award recipient
- 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
Saturday, September 05
Saturday, September 05
Friday, September 04
Tuesday, September 01
