Athletes Beyond Bartow: Updates on local contributors across the country

November 3, 2025

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

Former Cartersville High School quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars survived in overtime this past Sunday in Las Vegas. They moved to within one game of the AFC South division lead. 

Meanwhile, in college football, former Cass Colonels center Kail Ellis has become not only the youngest player in FBS but also a starter at Auburn.

NFL

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL, 5th-year pro; Clemson; Cartersville HS) …

completed 23 of 34 pass attempts for 220 yards with one interception and rushed for 24 yards and two touchdowns on nine attempts as the Jaguars won 30-29 at the Las Vegas Raiders this past Sunday in overtime. Both teams scored touchdowns on their initial possessions in the extra period, but Vegas went for a two-point conversion and failed. Jacksonville (5-3) plays at the Houston Texans on Sunday.

FOOTBALL

CARLOS DEL RIO-WILSON — Marshall University (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … completed 21 of 36 pass attempts for 153 yards and one touchdown, but threw two interceptions in a 44-27 home loss to Coastal Carolina last Thursday night. He also rushed for 70 yards on 21 attempts. Marshall (4-4, 2-2 Sun Belt Conference) hosts James Madison University on Saturday.

KAIL ELLIS — Auburn University (Fr., Cass HS) … started at center for a second straight game and was part of an offensive line rotation that produced 241 total yards in a 10-3 home loss this past Saturday to Kentucky. Ellis, 17, is the youngest player in the FBS after reclassifying last year to attend Auburn one year early. Ellis has taken over at center after All-American Connor Lew was lost for the season to injury. Auburn (4-5, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) visits Vanderbilt on Saturday.

TOKYO GORDON — Sam Houston State University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … the linebacker saw action but did not have a stat line in the Bearkats’ 55-14 loss at Louisiana Tech last Friday. SHSU (0-8, 0-5 Conference USA) travels to Corvallis to play at Oregon State on Saturday night.

DEVIN HENDERSON — Liberty University (R-Fr., Cass HS) … had one solo tackle this past Saturday in the Flames’ 59-30 home win over Delaware. Liberty (4-4, 3-1 Conference USA) hosts Missouri State on Saturday.

Kevin Henderson (9) makes a tackle from his linebacker position. FINDLAY UNIVERSITY PHOTO.

KEVIN HENDERSON — University of Findlay (So., Cass HS) … made 11 tackles, including seven solo tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks this past Saturday as the 11th-ranked Oilers won 31-16 at Northwood University (MI). Findlay (9-0, 7-0 Great Midwest Athletic Conference) visits Ashland University (OH) on Saturday.

SHADRE HURST — Tulane University (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … a starter on the offensive line, Hurst was part of an offensive unit that produced 434 total yards in a 48-26 home loss to UTSA. The Green Wave (6-2, 3-1 American Athletic Conference) visits the University of Memphis on Friday night.

KHRISTIAN LANDO — Jacksonville State University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … rushed for 13 yards on six attempts October 29 in the Gamecocks’ 24-21 win at Middle Tennessee. Jax State (5-3, 4-0 Conference USA) travels to El Paso to face UTEP on Saturday.

TYLER MARTIN — Berry College (Sr., Cass HS) … a regular starter on the Vikings’ offensive line that helped produce 371 yards of total offense this past Saturday in a 31-13 win at Centre College (KY). 20th-ranked Berry (7-1, 5-0 Southern Athletic Association) hosts Maryville College (TN) and will honor Martin and the other Vikings’ seniors on Saturday.

Jake Parker accounted for four touchdowns in last Saturday's win. CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOTO

JAKE PARKER — Cumberlands University (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … completed 8 of 13 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns this past Saturday as the Phoenix edged the University of the Cumberlands (KY) 40-37 in overtime. Parker also rushed 10 times for 71 yards and one touchdown in the conference victory. CU (6-3, 2-2 Mid-South Conference) visits 7th-ranked Lindsey Wilson College on Saturday.

DEVONTE ROSS — Penn State University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … caught five passes for 26 yards in the Nittany Lions’ 38-14 loss this past Saturday at top-ranked Ohio State. Penn State (3-5, 0-5 Big Ten Conference) hosts 2nd-ranked Indiana on Saturday.

STEPHEN ROWSER — Morehouse College (So., Cartersville HS) … recorded four tackles this past Saturday in the Maroon Tigers’ 28-17 home loss to Miles College (TN). Morehouse (3-6, 3-4 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) plays at Clark Atlanta on Saturday night.

BRAXTON RYAN — Kentucky Wesleyan College (Fr., Adairsville HS) … started on an offensive line that helped produce 305 total yards during a 24-12 loss this past Saturday at Tiffin University (OH). The Panthers (0-9, 0-7 Great Midwest Athletic Conference) play at Lake Erie University (OH) on Saturday.

IAN WILLIAMS — University of Memphis (Fr., Cass HS) … made one tackle in the Tigers’ 38-14 home win last Friday over Rice University. 22nd-ranked Memphis (8-1, 4-1 American Athletic Conference) hosts Tulane on Friday night.

SOCCER

ABBEY CRAIG — Reinhardt University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … the Eagles defender appeared in 63 games in her four-year career and made 33 starts.  Reinhardt (8-6-2) was eliminated at Columbia International University in the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament this past Saturday.

LIBBY MORGAN — Shorter University (Fr., Woodland HS) … started and played 65 minutes in a 4-0 loss this past Saturday at Young Harris College. The Lady Hawks did not qualify for the Conference Carolinas tournament and finished the 2025 season with a 1-12-2 mark.

VOLLEYBALL

AILEE ENGLAND — Berry College (So., Cartersville HS) … had one dig and played in all three sets of a 3-0 win October 28 at Oglethorpe University. She also had three service aces this past Saturday and appeared in all five sets of a 3-2 loss at Centre College (KY). This past Sunday, she had one dig in four sets in a 3-1 loss at Sewanee. Berry (19-6, 10-4 Southern Athletic Association) plays Washington and Lee University, Randolph-Macon College, and Emory University on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta.

Meredith (1) and Madelyn (10) Orton were recently recognized during a LaGrange College volleyball senior night ceremony. LAGRANGE COLLEGE PHOTO

MADELYN ORTON — LaGrange College (Sr., Cartersville resident, Cornerstone Prep) … appeared in three sets this past Saturday as the Panthers beat Wesleyan College but lost to Asbury University (KY). LaGrange (12-18, 10-6 CCS) enters the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament on November 11 as the No. 4 seed and will host Huntingdon College (AL) in the quarterfinals. Asbury will host the conference final four on November 14-15.

MEREDITH ORTON — LaGrange College (Sr., Cartersville resident, Cornerstone Prep) … had one kill and appeared in two sets this past Saturday as the Panthers beat Wesleyan College but lost to Asbury University (KY). LaGrange (12-18, 10-6 CCS) begins the conference tournament on November 11.

CROSS COUNTRY

McKINLEY CHAPPELL — Berry College (Sr., Woodland HS) … finished 49th in 27:18 at the 8K Southern Athletic Association conference championships in Grovetown, Texas. The Vikings finished third behind Trinity University (TX) and Centre College (KY).