Derrick Barksdale Season 2026

Career Highlights
• 2025 Third Team All-Sun Belt
 
Career Summary
Appeared in 40 games and started 27 over three seasons at James Madison University (2023-25) as a defensive back and kickoff returner before transferring to UCLA … helped the Dukes to a CFP berth in 2025 … named to the All-Sun Belt Third Team as a defensive back in 2025 … totaled 93 tackles (56-37-93) with 8.0 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, four interceptions, and 19 passes defended.
 
2025 (James Madison University)
Played in and started all 14 games for JMU in his true junior season … started 12 games at nickel and two at corner … voted Third Team All-Sun Belt … posted 36 tackles (22-14-36) with 3.0 TFLs, two interceptions, and 12 PBUs … tied for third in the Sun Belt in pass breakups … had three PBUs in the Sun Belt Championship Game against Troy on Dec. 5.
 
2024 (James Madison University)
Played in and started all 13 of JMU’s games as a true sophomore … was the Dukes’ starting nickel … made 42 tackles (27-15-42) with 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and three PBUs … named Defensive MVP of the Boca Raton Bowl as JMU notched a 27-17 victory over Western Kentucky … had four tackles, two TFLs, and a forced fumble in the bowl win … had a season-high seven tackles and two TFLs at North Carolina on Sept. 21 …
 
2023 (James Madison University)
Played in 13 games as a true freshman (no starts) … was JMU’s primary kick returner … returned 15 kickoffs for an average of 21.3 yards per return … made 15 tackles (7-8-15) … posted a season-long 41-yard kickoff return against Utah State on Sept. 23 … had a season-best 112 kickoff return yards on five attempts vs. Old Dominion on Oct. 28 … posted a season-best five tackles against Georgia Southern on Oct. 14 … had five tackles and a pick-six at Georgia Southern on Oct. 19.
 
High School
Attended South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, S.C. … named the 2022 WRHI Tri-County 5A/4A Defensive Player of the Year … also selected as the 2022 Palmetto Champions Upper State Defensive Player of the Year … named all-state in both 2021 and 2022 … cited as the 2022 Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year … three-time all-region pick (2020-22) … helped South Pointe to a 4A state championship in 2021, taking home MVP honors in the title game … played in the 2022 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas … also lettered in basketball … was a three-time all-region pick and three-time team offensive MVP in basketball.
 
Personal
Parents are Derrick and Wakita Barksdale … has two siblings, Braelyn and Patience … his father ran track and Winthrop University … majored in sport and recreation management at JMU ... enjoys listening to music and sitting on the balcony in his free time.