Athletes Beyond Bartow: Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars close in on a division title

December 30, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

This week’s Athletes Beyond Bartow report on local athletes and their contributions at the professional and collegiate levels is abbreviated due to the holiday break. Most collegiate programs across the country have limited schedules.

The week did include another win for former Canes quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He showcased his dual-threat ability with a pair of rushing touchdowns and another 100+ passer rating game in eliminating the Indianapolis Colts from playoff contention. Cartersville native Ashton Hagans made three starts with his team in China, while Myles Forristall and Devonte Ross appeared in bowl games for Georgia Tech and Penn State.

NFL

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL, 5th-year pro; Clemson; Cartersville HS)  … completed 23 of 37 pass attempts for 263 yards and rushed for 26 yards and two touchdowns as the Jaguars won at the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, 23-17. Lawrence did throw his first interception in five weeks, but still had a passer rating over 100. With a win this week, Jacksonville (12-4) has now won seven straight games and can clinch the AFC South title for the first time since 2022 when the Jags host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

CHINESE BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

ASHTON HAGANS — Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons (5th-yr. pro; Chinese Basketball Association; Cartersville native; University of Kentucky; Newton HS) … made three starts last week as his team went 1-2. He totaled three rebounds with three assists, and one steal in a win over Naniing Tongxi and losses to Qingdao and Guangdong Dongguan. The Brave Dragons (4-3) have games this week against Shandong and Guangzhou.

FOOTBALL

MYLES FORRISTALL — Georgia Tech (R-So., Cartersville HS) … saw action with the Yellow Jackets’ special teams but did not record a stat line in a 25-21 loss to Brigham Young last Saturday against Brigham Young University at the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. Forristall appeared in nine games in 2025 and made two tackles. Georgia Tech finished the season with a 9-4 record.

DEVONTE ROSS — Penn State University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … caught eight passes for 84 yards and added 11 yards on two rushing attempts last Saturday in the Nittany Lions’ 22-10 victory over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York. Penn State completed the year with four straight wins to finish with a 7-6 mark. Ross appeared in all 13 games this season and scored five touchdowns. He finished with 36 receptions for 501 yards, along with his two rushing plays in the bowl game. In three seasons at Troy University and one at Penn State, Ross had 2,119 receiving yards and over 2800 all-purpose yards, including kick and punt returns, with 20 total touchdowns.