JACKSONVILLE – Head football coach Jack Crowe announced today that Darius Barksdale, a former Mr. Football for the state of Mississippi, has joined the Jacksonville State team.

Barksdale, a freshman from Batesville, Miss., was a Parade and U.S. Army All-America selection and was named the 2007 Mr. Football.

“We had at practice today, Darius Barksdale, who is a transfer from the University of Mississippi,” Crowe said. “He is a nationally highly rated runningback, but he has to get in shape and he has a way to go.”

Barksdale, a 6-foot, 190-pound runningback, set the Class 5A Mississippi record with 2,917 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior. He prepped at South Panola High School, where he won four straight 5A state titles and never lost a game in high school. He attended Hargrave Prep School before signing with Ole Miss.

Crowe says the addition of Barksdale will help the Gamecocks in the backfield.

“We hope to get him in rotation with Calvin (Middleton), Jamal (Young) and Richard (Freelon),” Crowe said. “That will give us four really good backs that we hope will help us develop a really good punch.

“He is a big back, a powerful back, who will certainly help this ball team,” Crowe added.

Jacksonville State will hold its annual Fan Day on Saturday at 4 p.m. at JSU Stadium. The event is free and fans will have the opportunity to meet the 2010 Gamecock players and coaches. The JSU Marching Southerners will also be on hand to perform before the team holds a scrimmage at 6 p.m.