1986 Los Angeles Raiders | Positions Wide receiver Name Rod Barksdale | |
Date of birth (1962-09-08) September 8, 1962 (age 53) Place of birth Los Angeles, California | ||
Rod barksdale top shot
Rod Barksdale is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys. He never played high school or college football.
Contents
- Rod barksdale top shot
- Early years
- Los Angeles Raiders first stint
- Dallas Cowboys
- Los Angeles Raiders second stint
- Personal life
- References
Early years
Barksdale attended Compton High School where he practiced track and field. He enrolled at the University of Arizona as a 400 metres athlete, but switched his specialty after clocking 20.1 seconds in a 200 metres practice run. He also ran in 100 metres events.
He received All-American honors as a senior and competed in the 1984 Olympic trials, but pulled a muscle in the semifinals and failed to qualify.
Los Angeles Raiders (first stint)
In 1985, he received a tryout invitation by the Los Angeles Raiders after writing them a letter, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds and was signed as an undrafted free agent. As a rookie, he was placed on the injured reserve list with an ankle injury.
The next year, he had a notable preseason and made the team. In the season opener against the Denver Broncos, he caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Marc Wilson. Even though he was considered as a raw player, he still appeared in all 16 games with 15 starts, registering 18 receptions for 434 yards and 2 touchdowns.
At the start of his third season, a surplus of wide receivers made him expendable in the eyes of Raiders management. On August 2, 1987, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for cornerback Ron Fellows.
Dallas Cowboys
In 1987, he was acquired by the Dallas Cowboys for depth purposes, after the team waived wide receiver Tony Hill. Even though the team lost wide receivers Mike Sherrard and Ray Alexander during the preseason, Barksdale still couldn't earn a starting job, appearing in 15 games with one start, while posting 12 receptions for 165 yards and one touchdown. The next year, he injured his right knee in the Blue-White scrimmage and was placed on the injured reserve list. He was waived on July 10, 1989.
Los Angeles Raiders (second stint)
In 1990, he was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Raiders, but was released on August 28.
Personal life
After football, he started a video surveillance company.