Barksdale (5-11, 208) originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick (201st overall) of Philadelphia in 2007. He began his collegiate career at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York before transferring to Albany as a junior baseball player. He joined the Great Danes football team as a running back before shifting to safety. He opened 10 games as a senior at Albany, recording 37 tackles and three INTs to earn Mid-Major All-America honors from Football Gazette. The Hudson, New York native was an all-state performer in both baseball and football at Hudson High School.