SLIPPERY ROCK — Only six Slippery Rock quarterbacks have ever thrown for more than 200 yards in a game four times.

That six-pack includes Cody Endres, John Linhart, Randy McKavish, James Poldiak, Chad Vogt and Nigel Barksdale.

Only Barksdale made that list in five starts for The Rock.

Not bad for a “running” quarterback.

“That’s what I’ve always been called, that’s how I’ve always been viewed,” the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Barksdale said. “I’m fine with it. I’m motivated by that tag every day.”

It’s not that Barksdale can’t run. He’s pretty good at it, actually.

Barksdale has 134 carries for 507 yards — including sacks — and seven touchdowns this season. He’s completed 95 of 168 passes for 1,415 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“Nigel is the complete quarterback. There’s nothing he can’t do,” SRU coach George Mihalik said.

Barksdale has been drawing comparisons to McKavish, SRU’s four-year starting quarterback who was part of four PSAC West championships and three Division II playoff teams from 1997 to 2000.

During all of that success, McKavish had only five career 200-yard passing games. His career completion percentage was below 50.

“Randy knew how to make plays to win games. He was a winner. He grew with the team he played for,” Mihalik said. “Nigel has a chance to do the same thing.”

Barksdale has completed numerous deep passes against defenses aggressively stacking the line to guard against his running ability this year.

“I welcome that,” Barksdale said. “It seems like teams almost dare me to throw the ball sometimes.”

He’ll take that dare. Barksdale has taken it most of his football life.

Growing up in San Diego, Calif., he was primarily a running quarterback in high school because “I was probably our fastest kid and in high school, that’s who gets the ball.”

Barksdale opted for Mount San Jacinto College, a junior college in California, and started all 20 games there over the past two years. He rushed for 500 yards and threw for 1,500 as a freshman, then topped the 2,000-yard mark in total offense last year.

And Rock offensive coordinator Phil Longo found him this year.

“I’ve been coaching for 20 years and have contacts all over the country,” Longo said. “I pay particular attention to the JUCO circuit and got the word about Nigel.

“He was probably too small to go a Division I school, so we took a look. He reminded me a lot of Ted Schlafke, a stellar quarterback I coached at Minnesota-Duluth.”

The 5-10 Schlafke led Minnesota-Duluth to a Division II national championship and became a quarterfinalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the best Division II player in the country.

“Nigel is very similar to him in terms of ability,” Longo said. “His next step is the mental part of the game, to be able to call a play on the field.

“We called all the plays from the sideline this year, but Nigel has called some checks on the field. He’s got the best seat in the house out there and we want him to be able to read the defense and adjust.”

Mihalik said Barksdale is “definitely our best quarterback since McKavish. The sky is the limit for him next year.”

Barksdale will have to wait until next year to play as he suffered a knee injury last weekend against Lock Haven that will require surgery. The Rock closes the 2012 season Saturday, hosting Bloomsburg.

“I’m all fired up for next year,” Barksdale said. “It’s going to be my one shot to make it happen with these guys.

“I get a little homesick from time to time, but I love it here. This was the first school I visited after last season and I never needed to look anywhere else.”