Born in Detroit, Michigan, he attended Louisiana State University on a full-ride football scholarship.

It’s also a world where an NFL tackle manages to create one of the more delightful, sincere records of 2018.”[2] In April 2019, Barksdale released an EP titled Electric Soul, produced by Narada Michael Walden.

[4] In February 2020 he released single "Black Majik", which was described by Ryan Baltz of American Songwriter as a "dark and funky helping of shot-in-the-veins blues".

Barksdale attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan, where he was a two-way lineman for coach Thomas Wilcher.

He recorded 73 tackles (17 for losses), 14 hurries, seven quarterback sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles as a senior, and received High School All-American honors by Parade and USA Today.

On October 21, 2012, Barksdale made his first NFL start at left tackle against the Green Bay Packers.

On March 7, 2016, Barksdale agreed to a four-year $22,000,000 contract extension and a signing bonus worth up to $4,000,000 with the Chargers.

Barksdale entered the 2018 season slated as the starting right tackle, however suffered a knee injury in Week 1 and missed the next five games.