The Farmington Hills Harrison defense just got a boost.

This week, prep football star, Trey Barksdale, an up-and-coming college-recruit and all-league honoree at the linebacker position out of the Macomb Athletic Conference, transferred into the Farmington Hills school district and joined the Hawks on the gridiron.

Barksdale, who plays outside linebacker to take advantage of his wheels and natural instinct in pass-coverage, lands at Harrison from Clintondale for his senior year. As a junior last fall, Barksdale posted 60 tackles, five pass deflections and two interceptions on a Clintondale squad that went 9-1 and captured a league crown.

Harrison, a traditional state powerhouse with the football pads on, went 6-4 last season, losing to Fenton in the districts. Two years ago, the Hawks were nationally-ranked by the USA Today and three years ago, they won a state title.

The sudden addition of Barksdale will significantly aid Harrison in withstanding the blow to its 'D' that is the departing human tackling machine Jake Slobin, off to play his college pigskin at Grand Valley State after three years anchoring TEAM HERRINGTON in the trenches.

Expect Barksdale to be one of the top defensive players in the OAA in 2013.