Athletes Beyond Bartow: Beasley joins Raiders, Winters inks deal, and Gambill makes Memphis debut

Former Hurricanes football standout, Jonah Gambill, made his collegiate debut Saturday vs. SF Austin.

Last week in this space, there were only three college football players from Bartow County who saw any action. It was written that the “expectation would be for a much greater number to return to the field this coming weekend.”

Well, that didn’t happen.

In fact, the same number of locals actually played in the FBS games that took place, as five contests that could have involved Bartow athletes were called off.

Thankfully, there was some positive news at the pro level to buoy the lack of collegiate contributions this week.

Domestically, Vic Beasley Jr. has found a new home after being released by the Tennessee Titans earlier this month. For the time being, the Adairsville native will have to settle for being added to the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad.

Internationally, Rudy Winters — former basketball standout at Excel Christian — inked a deal with Central Argentino Olimpico de Ceres, according to a news release by the Argentinian second-division team. Additionally, former Cartersville standout Jonah Gambill made his collegiate debut with the Memphis University football team as the Tigers routed Stephen F. Austin, 56-14.

PRO BASKETBALL

Rudy Winters (Excel Christian; Central Argentino Olimpico de Ceres, Argentina) — Winters was announced Monday as a signing for Central — a member of La Liga Argentina, the second division of Argentinian basketball — by the team.

PRO FOOTBALL

Vic Beasley (Adairsville; Las Vegas Raiders) — Beasley joined the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad Monday, per the Raiders’ official website. The Adairsville native played in five games for the Tennessee Titans this season before being released earlier this month.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Jordan Ferguson (Middle Tennessee State R-Jr., Cartersville) — Ferguson finished with four tackles (one solo) and assisted on a tackle for loss in a 20-17 win Saturday at Troy. It marked a major improvement from the 47-14 defeat the Blue Raiders suffered against the Trojans back on Sept. 19. (Yes, the two teams have now played twice this season. Welcome to 2020.) MTSU (3-6) is scheduled to host Florida Atlantic this Saturday.

Miller Forristall (Alabama R-Sr., Cartersville) — Forristall was held without a catch for the first time this season, but it didn’t seem to slow down the Alabama offense much in a 63-3 rout of Kentucky Saturday. The top-ranked Crimson Tide will host Auburn this week.

Jonah Gambill (Memphis Fr., Cartersville) — Gambill made his collegiate debut along the Tigers offensive line in a 56-14 rout Saturday of Stephen F. Austin. Next up for Memphis (5-2) is a trip to face Navy this week in Annapolis, Maryland.

-- contributed by Nicholas Sullivan, The Daily Tribune News