News, notes, rumors and quick-hitters from the world of football in the Old North State:
Barton’s Jordan Terrell signs with CFL’s BC Lions
One door closed but another has opened for Barton College All-American running back Jordan Terrell in his quest to forge a professional football career.
Terrell from Ramseur (Eastern Randolph HS) was signed to the training camp roster of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League on Thursday. Terrell had received a mini-camp roster invitation by the NFL’s Tennessee Titans in late April, but that opportunity did not work out.
Terrell’s signing made the front page of the BC Lions team page Thursday. Terrell (5-10, 210) will wear No. 28 during camp. He wore No. 1 during his time at Barton, where he rushed for more than 5,400 yards and 44 touchdowns.
The CFL season kicks off in early June. BC finished 12-6 a year ago.
WCU’s Cole Gonzales named a top three FCS quarterback
A media outlet that covers FCS football in-depth has named Western Carolina quarterback Cole Gonzales one of the best signal callers in the nation. HERO Sports named Gonzales the No. 3 returning quarterback in all of FCS. He trails only Cam Miller of North Dakota State and Mark Gronowski of defending champion South Dakota State in HERO Sports’ Top 25 FCS Returning Quarterbacks.
Gonzales, who is from Ocala, Fla. (Trinity Catholic HS), was voted the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year by the league’s media last season. Gonzales threw for 2,803 yards and 28 touchdowns.
No other FCS quarterback from North Carolina was included in the list.
—> READ MORE: Hero Sports’ Top 25 Returning Quarterbacks in FCS
Catamounts ranked No. 17 in preseason FCS poll
HERO Sports released its first preseason FCS Top 25 on Thursday, marking 100 days until kickoff of the first FCS game of the season.
Western Carolina was the only North Carolina team included in the rankings, coming in at No. 16. Defending champion South Dakota State, North Dakota State and Montana comprise the top three. WCU will visit Montana in September.
Chattanooga, which competes in Western Carolina’s conference, was ranked 10th. Furman was 14th.
—> READ MORE: HERO Sports early FCS Top 25
Mars Hill still looking to fill one schedule spot
Mars Hill released its 2024 football schedule this week, but the Lions hope to find one more opponent before the season starts.
The Lions, a Division II school that competes in the South Atlantic Conference, currently has a 10-game slate. Assistant coach Brady Moyers posted on social media Thursday that MHU hopes to find another opponent for the weekend of Sept. 7.
Mars Hill will open the season against visiting Delta State on Thursday, Aug. 29. Delta State posted a 10-2 record a year ago in the Gulf South Conference.
The Lions have an open date Sept. 14, then will jump into conference play against two in-state rivals, Lenoir-Rhyne at home Sept. 21 and Wingate on the road Sept. 28.
Other SAC home games include dates against Carson-Newman (Oct. 12), Tusculum (Oct. 19) and Emory & Henry (Nov. 2). Other conference road games will pit the Lions on visiting turf against Newberry (Oct. 5), UVA Wise (Oct. 26), newcomer Anderson (Nov. 9) and Catawba (Nov. 16).
Mars Hill went 8-2 record a year ago, narrowly missing out on the chance to play Lenoir-Rhyne for the conference title.
Quick-Hitters
North Carolina Central offensive coordinator Matt Leone has been named an “FCS Coach on the Rise” by Our Coaching Network …
Shaw announced Thursday it will host Elizabeth City State in a non-conference game on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. The Bears moved their contest at Albany State, originally set for Sept. 5, to Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.
