University of Albany’s Rashad Barksdale Signs With Arizona Cardinals - Andre Coleman Signs With San Diego Chargers - UAlbany Sports 2009

The defending NFC champion Arizona Cardinals added University at Albany product Rashad Barksdale to their practice squad on Tuesday.

Barksdale, a defensive back, played one season on special teams for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Also, former UAlbany defensive lineman Andre Coleman was signed to San Diego Chargers practice squad on Sunday evening for the third consecutive year.

by Mark Singelais

NFL's New York Giants Move Former UAlbany Cornerback Rashad Barksdale to Active Roster

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

East Rutherford, N.J. - The Giants announced on Tuesday, Dec. 30 the addition of two players to their roster in advance of tomorrow’s first practice of the postseason. They signed cornerback Rashad Barksdale, a former University at Albany standout, off their practice squad and signed linebacker Rich Scanlon.

To make room on the roster, the Giants put cornerback Sam Madison on injured reserve and waived linebacker Edmond Miles. Madison broke his right ankle in the third quarter at Minnesota.

Barskdale, 6-0 and 208 pounds, was signed to the practice squad on Sept. 1. He was released on Oct. 21 but re-signed the next day.

In 2007, Barksdale spent the entire season with the Kansas City Chiefs. He played in six games and was inactive for the other 10 games. Barksdale finished with nine special teams tackle. He made his NFL debut against Jacksonville on Oct. 7 with one special teams tackle. Barksdale had three tackles vs. Tennessee on Dec. 16 and at the Jets on Dec. 30.

Barksdale joined the NFL as a sixth-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007, the 201st overall selection. He was waived on Sept. 1, 2007 and signed by Kansas City the following day. He is the first player on the Giants’ active roster from the University at Albany, where they have held training camp since 1996.

Barksdale played baseball for two seasons at Albany before joining the football team as a walk-on as a senior in 2006. He started 10 games at cornerback and was credited with 37 tackles (26 solo) and intercepted three passes, including two in the fourth quarter in an upset victory over Delaware. Barksdale was an All-State running back and defensive back at Hudson (N.Y.) High School. He was born on May 11, 1984.

Scanlon, 6-2 and 249 pounds, has played in 40 games – 31 with Kansas City from 2004-06 and nine with Tennessee in 2007. He also played in a postseason game with the Titans last season. Scanlon has never started a game, as most of his playing time has been on special teams, where he has 51 tackles.

Scanlon joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004. As a rookie he played in six games and had five special teams tackles. He started 11 games for the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europa in 2005, when he led the league with 94 tackles (68 solo). That year, he played all 16 games for the Chiefs, including 13 in which he played on defense. He led the team with 29 special teams tackles and had three tackles on defense. In 2006, Scanlon played in nine games, including seven on defense. He had 10 special teams tackles. He was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury on Dec. 31, 2006.

Scanlon was waived by the Chiefs at the end of training camp in 2007. He signed with the Titans on Oct. 31, 2007 and contributed seven special teams tackles and two fumble recoveries in nine regular season games and two special teams tackles in the Titans’ AFC Wild Card loss at San Dieg0.

Former UAlbany Cornerback Rashad Barksdale Makes History in NFL's Chiefs-Jaguars Game

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Kansas City, Mo. – Former University at Albany football standout Rashad Barksdale made history in Sunday’s National Football League game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Barksdale became the first UAlbany player to appear in an NFL regular-season game when he took the field on special teams for the opening kickoff. He also played on the punt cover and punt return units and made a fourth-quarter tackle with 6:08 remaining.

“When I first stepped onto the field it was the first play of the game,” said Barksdale, whose team fell to Jacksonville, 17-7, at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 7. “The crowd was really into it and it was so loud ... a great experience.”

Barksdale, a native of Hudson, N.Y. who had been on the inactive list for the Chiefs’ opening four games, was added to Kansas City’s 53-man roster in early September. He was selected in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round. The Eagles released him at the end of the preseason to get down to their final roster before Kansas City claimed him off waivers.

“I have come a long way to get where I am right now,” offered Barksdale, who came to the UAlbany program as a walk-on in the summer of 2006 after playing two years on the school’s baseball team. “The UAlbany football program has done the same where they actually have now had someone play in a real NFL game. I have never been able to say, I was the first to do something, but that all changed today.”

UALBANY’S RASHAD BARKSDALE CHOSEN IN NFL DRAFT’S SIXTH ROUND BY PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

University at Albany’s Rashad Barksdale was taken in the sixth round of the 2007 National Football League Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, April 29. Barksdale, who was the 201st player selected, is the second UAlbany football player to be chosen in the draft.

Barksdale, who has been projected as both a cornerback and safety at the professional level, played just one season for head coach Bob Ford and the Great Danes. He came to the program as a walk-on last August after earning two varsity letters as an outfielder on the UAlbany baseball squad. Barksdale, who was named to the Football Gazette Mid-Major All-America Team as an honorable mention selection, accounted for 39 tackles, three interceptions and three pass break-ups in 2006. In addition, he averaged 8.5 yards per punt return. UAlbany finished with a 7-4 record and tied for second in the Northeast Conference standings.

"I am living a story on ESPN," said Barksdale, who will report to the Eagles' rookie mini-camp on May 11. "I wanted to play baseball, so I never expected to ever hear my name in the NFL Draft. I feel lucky and I am very happy for my family. I look forward to the challenge of being the first player from this school to play in an NFL game."

Kurt Campbell was the first Great Dane chosen in the NFL Draft when he went in the seventh round to the Green Bay Packers in 2005. He spent two years with the franchise.

In addition, defensive end Andre Coleman (6-3, 274) and offensive lineman Jacob Hobbs (6-3, 303) have agreed to terms as free agents with the San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively. Coleman was named to The Sports Network and Football Gazette Mid-Major All-America first-team units. He made his second straight appearance on the All-NEC first team. Coleman totaled 42 tackles and led the team in hits for a loss (13.0) and sacks (6.0). Hobbs, an offensive tackle on the collegiate level, was chosen to the 2006 Football Gazette Mid-Major All-America second team. He earned first-team All-NEC recognition.