Athletes Beyond Bartow: Updates on local professional and collegiate athletes

November 18, 2024

This week’s edition of Athletes Beyond Bartow includes updates on 30 local athletes and their contributions at the professional and collegiate levels.

NFL

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL, 4th-yr. pro; Clemson; Cartersville HS) …

sat out a second straight week as the Jaguars lost at the Detroit Lions, Coach Doug Pederson made the announcement on the Wednesday prior to Sunday’s game that his quarterback was still dealing with a left shoulder injury. Jacksonville (2-9) has a bye week this weekend giving Lawrence additonal time to heal and hopefully start December 1 against the Houston Texans.

FOOTBALL

ELIJAH AGNEW — Shorter University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … saw action in his fourth game this season for the Hawks and had one tackle this past Thursday during a 44-28 loss at Kentucky State. Shorter (3-6) plays at North Greenville University on Friday.

KOLBE BENHAM — Marist College (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … made six tackles this past Saturday in a 42-23 home loss to Presbyterian College. Benham finished the season with 43 tackles. The Red Foxes finished 1-10 overall and 1-7 in the Pioneer Football League.

HAYDEN CAGLE — Berry College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … a starter on the Vikings’ offensive line that helped produce 496 total yards in a 48-14 victory at Rhodes College in Memphis. Berry completes the season with an 8-2 overall record. The Vikings were 6-1 in the Southern Athletic Association.

KEVIN HENDERSON — University of Findlay (Fr., Cass HS) … made five tackles, including one for a 4-yard loss this past Saturday in a 37-14 loss at Tiffin (OH). The linebacker had 35 tacklesthis season, including four for loss and one sack. He added one pass break-up and one fumble recovery in eleven games. The Oilers finished 9-2 overall and 7-2 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

SHADRE HURST — Tulane University (So., Cartersville HS) … a starter on the Green Wave’s offensive line that helped produce 358 yards of total offense in a 35-0 win this past Saturday at Navy. Tulane (9-2, 7-0 American Athletic Conference) hosts Memphis on Thursday night.

QUANTE JENNINGS — Presbyterian College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … rushed for 26 yards on eight attempts and caught two passes for 21 yards this past Saturday in a 42-23 victory at Marist College. The Blue Hose (5-6, 3-4 Pioneer Football League) host Butler on Saturday afternoon.

TYLER MARTIN — Berry College (Jr., Cass HS) … a starter on the Vikings’ offensive line that helped produce 496 total yards in a 48-14 victory at Rhodes College in Memphis. Berry completes the season with an 8-2 overall record. The Vikings were 6-1 in the Southern Athletic Association.

JAKE PARKER — Judson University (Cartersville HS) … completed 10 of 22 passes this past Saturday for 107 yards and threw two interceptions in a 38-6 loss at 9th-ranked Saint Xavier (Ill.) Parker also had two rushing attempts for three yards. For the season he was 141-of-290 for 2,222 yards and 17 touchdowns with 20 interceptions in nine games. He had 51 rushing attempts for 66 yards. The Eagles finished 1-9 and were winless in their conference.

SAM PHILLIPS — UT-Chattanooga (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … caught eight passes for 66 yards this past Saturday in the Mocs’ 36-13 home loss to Samford. Chattanooga (6-5, 5-3 Southern Conference) visits Austin Peay on Saturday afternoon.

CHRIS ROPER — Dartmouth College (So., Adairsville HS) … had one tackle in the Big Green’s 39-22 loss this past Saturday at Cornell. Dartmouth (7-2, 4-2 Ivy League) hosts Brown on Saturday.

DEVONTE ROSS — Troy University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … had ten receptions for 95 yards and one touchdown this past Saturday in the Trojans’ 28-20 win at Georgia Southern. He also had one rushing attempt for a 1-yard loss and one punt return for five yards. Troy (3-7, 2-4 Sun Belt Conference) visits Louisiana on Saturday afternoon.

COURTNEY SLOCUM — Mars Hill University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … made seven tackles, including one for a five-yard loss in a 31-26 loss at Limestone. Slocum finished the season with 32 tackles, including 2.5 for loss. The Lions finished with a 5-4 overall record and 5-3 mark in the South Atlantic Conference.

EVAN SLOCUM — Wake Forest (Sr., Cartersville HS) … was credited with five tackles last Saturday in the Demon Deacons’ 31-24 loss at North Carolina. Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) visits Miami on Saturday afternoon.

VOLLEYBALL

AILEE ENGLAND — Berry College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … saw action in two sets of the Vikings SAA Conference win last Friday over Sewanee in Danville, Kentucky. She contributed five digs in Berry’s 3-2 quarterfinal win. The Vikings won the Southern Athletic Association title with wins over Hendrix College (3-0) in the semifinals and host Centre College (3-1) in the championship. Berry (16-13) awaits the Selection Show on Monday for its first round assignment in the NCAA Division III national tournament.

WRESTLING

LEE CAMP — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … won a major decision, 15-5, in the Eagles’ 26-10 loss last Friday at Southeastern University (FL). Camp, who won at 125-pounds, was one of three Eagles with individual victories. Reinhardt is set to face Brewton Parker on Friday.

KYLE GOLLHOFER — University of Northern Iowa (R-Sr., Woodland HS) … went 5-3 and placed sixth in the 125-pound division this past weekend at the Grand View Open in Grimes, Iowa. 

TYLER-XAVIER McKNIGHT — Davidson College (So., Cass HS) … won a 10-1 major decision over his opponent from Belmont Abbey and pinned his opponent from Saint Andrews (NC) in 0:41 as the Wildcats won two duals last Thursday. He also won by major decision this past Sunday in Davidson’s win at Presbyterian College. The next match for the Wildcats will be Dec. 6 at Duke.

JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Jr., Woodland HS)  … pinned his opponent in the Terps 38-1 win this past Saturday over American University. Maryland will host Morgan State on Friday night.

BASKETBALL

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (Sr., Cass HS) … scored 11 points with four rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one steal this past Sunday in an 81-70 win at Centenary (LA). The Vikings (2-2) visit Maryville College (TN) on Tuesday night.

NA’YEL CAMPER — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … scored 15 points with two rebounds and one assist last Wednesday in a 74-63 home loss to Brenau University. On Saturday, she scored four points with three rebounds and two assists in a home start and 83-46 victory over St. Andrews (NC). The Eagles (4-1, 1-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visit University of Pikeville (KY) on Wednesday and host Milligan (TN) on Saturday.

CLAIRE DAVIS — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … scored three points with three rebounds and one blocked shot this past Saturday in a 94-44 home win over Erskine College. The Owls (2-2) travel to San Jose State on Thursday night.

JA’KA’YAH DRAUGHN — Chattanooga State CC (So., Cartersville HS) … had one rebound Monday in a 69-66 win at Jackson State CC. Chatt State (5-0, 3-0 Tennessee Community College Athletic Association) visits Peliissippi State on Wednesday and hosts Southwest Tennessee CC on Saturday.

ANSLEY GRIFFIN — North Carolina Wesleyan (Fr., Cartersville HS) … scored two points with two rebounds and one steal this past Saturday in an 88-62 win over Warren Wilson College at the Jean Edge Classic in Boone, NC. The Battling Bishops (3-0) play at Mary Washington on Nov. 26.

ZION HAYES — Weatherford CC (Fr., Cass HS) … had two rebounds and one steal Nov. 12 in a 76-47 home win over Western Texas CC. The Coyotes (3-2) will face Southern Arkansas University Tech on Thursday and Clarendon College on Friday at the Western Texas Classic.

DAVID JINKS — University of Maine - Augusta (Fr., Excel Christian) … totaled four points, two rebounds, and one steal in losses this past weekend to Maine-Farmington (102-69) and Worcester State University (104-66). The Moose (0-5) host Southern Maine CC on Tuesday night.

HALEY JOHNSON — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … scored 13 points this past Saturday with one blocked shot and six rebounds in an 83-46 home win over St. Andrews (NC). She also scored five points with six rebounds last Wednesday in a 74-63 loss to Brenau University. The Eagles (4-1, 1-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visit University of Pikeville (KY) on Wednesday and host Milligan (TN) on Saturday.

KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (Jr., Cass HS) … scored three points with two rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block Nov. 12 in a 72-59 home loss to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. TFC (0-5) plays at Young Harris College on Nov. 26.

MEGAN SCHULTZ — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Woodland HS) … saw brief action with no stat this past Thursday and Saturday in home losses to Middle Georgia State and Point University. The Fillies (2-5) host Paine College on Saturday.

LONDAISHA SMITH — St. Andrews University (Sr., Cass HS) … totaled 22 points with 15 points, four assists, and one steal in losses last week at Columbia College and Reinhardt University. The Lady Knights (1-5, 0-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Union Commonwealth on Wednesday and University of Pikeville (KY) on Saturday.