Athletes Beyond Bartow: Lawrence misses the first game of his career but is expected to return to the Jags' lineup on Sunday

January 1, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

This week’s edition of Athletes Beyond Bartow covers the previous two weeks ending on Monday, January 1, 2024.

NFL

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL; 3rd-yr. pro; QB; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … missed the first game of his career this past Sunday due to a sprained throwing shoulder. The injury was sustained in Jacksonville’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 24. Lawrence did not practice the entire week due to a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder. On Sunday, C.J. Beathard replaced him as the Jaguars shut out the Carolina Panthers, 26-0. In the loss at Tampa Bay, the 24-year-old QB was 17-for-29 passing for 211 yards and one touchdown. He threw a pair of interceptions and coughed up one fumble. Lawrence has dealt with multiple injuries this season, including a stint in concussion protocol and an ankle injury. Those setbacks, however, did not force him to miss any games. For the season, the 6-6 signal-caller has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 3,736 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Jacksonville (9-7) can win the AFC South with a victory on Sunday at the Tennessee Titans. The Associated Press reported on Monday that the Jags expect to get Lawrence and receiver Christian Kirk back for this Sunday's game.

NBA G-LEAGUE

ASHTON HAGANS — Rip City Remix (4th yr. pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … Hagans and the Remix completed the 16-game Showcase portion of the NBA G League schedule with an 8-8 record after defeating the Rio Grande Valley Vipers 117-103 on December 21. The Cartersville native had 19 points, five assists, three blocks, and three rebounds in that victory. Rip City, a first-year G League team and Portland Blazers' affiliate, has started the Regular Season schedule 1-1 after splitting home games this past weekend with the Delaware Blue Coats. Hagans scored 20 points with six assists, five boards, and one block in this past Saturday’s 126-122 win. He then scored 22 points with nine assists and eight rebounds Sunday in a 130-117 loss. This week, Rip City plays at the Salt Lake City Stars on Thursday and at the Mexico City Capitanes on Saturday and Sunday.

CANADIAN BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE

A.J. MOSBY, JR. — Sudbury Five (6th year pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … The Five started the 2024 season this past week with a home win over the London Lightning 124-113 and at the Kitchener Waterloo Titans, 122-114. Mosby scored 18 points with six rebounds and five assists in the opener. He then scored 23 points with eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one blocked shot in The Five’s first road game. Sudbury (2-0) plays at the Montreal Toundra on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … started on a Tigers’ offensive line that helped produce 530 yards of total offense in a 36-26 Liberty Bowl win over Iowa State. Gambill made starts in 10 games this season as Memphis finished 10-3.

SHADRE HURST — Tulane University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … the recently named Freshman All-American started on the Green Wave’s offensive line that helped produce 252 yards of total offense in a 41-20 Military Bowl loss to Virginia Tech in Annapolis, Maryland. Hurst appeared in every game this year for Tulane as the Green Wave completed an 11-3 campaign.

DEVONTE ROSS — Troy University (So., Cartersville HS) … made two catches for 11 yards on December 23 in the Trojans’ 17-10 loss to Duke in the Birmingham Bowl. Ross had at least one reception in 13 games this season and totaled 428 yards with three touchdowns as Troy went 11-3.

WRESTLING

BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall College (So., Cass HS) … went 2-1 at the Sheridan Invitational on December 22 improving to 9-6 this season in the 141-pound weight class. Next on the Diplomats’ schedule is the David Lehman Open on Friday.

CADEN McCRARY — University of North Carolina (R-So., Woodland HS) … finished 0-3 December 29-30 in his 133-pound bouts at the Soldier Salute tournament in Coralville, Iowa. The Tar Heels have home matches January 12 and 13 against Penn, Brown, and Harvard.

TYLER McKNIGHT — Davidson College (Fr., Cass HS) … won his Round of 16 bout on Monday and will continue at the 21-team Chattanooga Southern Scuffle on Tuesday.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (Jr., Cass HS) … Benham totaled 20 points, eight assists, eight rebounds, and four steals as the Vikings split two games in Belton, Texas. Berry lost to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 85-78 and beat Concordia (Texas) 88-83 on December 19-20. The Vikings then dropped both games this past Friday and Saturday in a tournament at Trine University in Angola, Indiana. Benham totaled 24 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in losses to Trine (88-76) and Calvin University (Michigan)(79-74). On Monday, Benham scored 20 points, collected five rebounds, and had two assists and two steals in a 76-71 home loss to Christopher Newport. Berry (3-9, 0-1 SAA) hosts Rhodes College on Friday and Hendrix College on Sunday.

CLAIRE DAVIS — Palm Beach Atlantic University (So., Cass HS) … scored 22 points and added four rebounds, one steal, one blocked shot, and one assist this past Saturday in a 79-63 Sailfish win at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. She also totaled 21 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, two blocked shots, and one steal in wins December 18-19 over Bowie State and Shaw University at the Fighting Knight Christmas Classic in Boca Raton. Palm Beach Atlantic (7-5, 1-3 Sunshine State Conference) returns to conference action Wednesday at home against Florida Tech.

JA’KA’YAH DRAUGHN — Chattanooga State CC (Fr., Cartersville HS) … saw action off the Tigers’ bench but had no stat line in a 61-56 loss on December 20 at Dyersburg State CC. Chatt State (10-1, 3-1 Tennessee Community College Athletic Association) plays at Snead State CC on Friday night.

JUSTICE HAYES — Point University (Jr., Cass HS) … in a home start this past Saturday against Truett McConnell University Hayes scored five points, grabbed five rebounds, and added two assists and two steals as the Skyhawks won 58-57. Point (6-7, 0-5 Southern States Athletic Conference) hosts Blue Mountain College (Mississippi) on Thursday night and Tennessee Southern on Saturday afternoon.

T.J. PRINTUP — Tusculum University (R-Fr., Adairsville HS) … scored four points off the Pioneers’ bench this past Saturday in a 68-57 loss at UNC-Pembroke. He added six rebounds, two blocked shots, and one assist in the loss. Tusculum (3-7, 1-3 South Atlantic Conference) plays conference games Wednesday and Saturday at Emory & Hayes and Wingate.