Senior Donald Barksdale makes college football commitment to Youngstown State

Mr. Touchdown will be taking his scoring prowess to Youngstown State University.

Steel Valley senior Donald Barksdale announced his college commitment on Wednesday, December 4 during a special signing day ceremony in front of family, friends, classmates, and coaches inside the high school auditorium.

Surrounded by his family on stage, Barksdale played a short video to announce his college decision. As the video ended with the announcement, he pulled out a bright red Youngstown State cap with a wide smile on his face.

Watch Barksdale's commitment video here

Barksdale had a stellar football career at Steel Valley. Part of the Ironmen's WPIAL Class 2A championship team in 2022 and the WPIAL Class 2A runner-up in 2023, he earned all-conference honors at running back as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He also earned all-conference recognition as a kick returner as a junior, when he was named the WPIAL Class 2A Allegheny Conference Offensive Player of the Year. As a senior, Barksdale was named first-team all-conference as a running back, defensive back, and kick returner, and was again named the WPIAL Class 2A Allegheny Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

He was recently named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's annual Fab 22 team as one of the top players in the entire WPIAL for the 2024 season.

In his senior season, Barksdale ran for 2,239 yards and scored 32 touchdowns. Over the course of his Ironmen career, he ran for 5,267 yards and scored 86 total touchdowns. He finished his high school career among the Top 20 rushers all-time in WPIAL history.

Congratulations Donald Barksdale on a fantastic high school football career and best of luck at Youngstown State University!