Barksdale, James

A two sport standout, at Coffee High School, playing baseball and football. As a senior he hit .454 and had 36 stolen bases. A three-year letterman and starting outfielder for UNA baseball teams from 2004-06, Barksdale is still the Lions' all-time career hits leader, despite leaving the program to pursue a professional baseball career after his junior season. was a first-team All-GSC selection in 2005 and 2006, a first-team All-South Region pick in 2006 and a second team ABCA All-American selection as a senior. He added two GSC Player of the Week awards and was the league's East Division Player of the Year in 2006. As a senior, he hit .436 with 67 runs scored and 38 runs batted in, while also leading the NCAA Division II in stolen bases with 59 in 69 attempts for a 1.02 average per game. Barksdale also earned Academic All-GSC in honors 2006 and was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team. He holds UNA records for at bats in a season with 241 in 2006 and most hits in a season with 105 in 2006. His five hits in a game against Henderson State in 2006 tied a school record. Barksdale holds the UNA record for most career hits (261) and is second in career stolen bases with 109 in 128 attempts. He ranks second at UNA in most career at bats (666), third in career total bases (352) and fourth in career runs scored (164). He finished with a .392 career batting average (261 of 666) as the Lions had a combined 121-59-1 record during his three seasons at UNA. He was named UNA co-Male Athlete of the Year for 2005-06 and was named to the first team of the GSC All-Decade Team for 2001-10. He was drafted in the 15th round of the 2006 MLB Draft (440th overall pick) by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and played with them from 2006-08. He played with the Williamsport Crosscutters (2006), the State College Spikes (2007) and the Lynchburg Hillcats (2008). He was inducted into UNA Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.