At the recent preseason football Media Day hosted at Fountain Inn High School, GreerNews.com had the opportunity to catch up with several Greer-area football teams ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Blue Ridge football was the second program GreerNews.com caught up with.
The Tigers brought three of this upcoming season’s leaders to Friday’s media event: WR Marquiel Troupe, WR Braylon Edwards and LB Cooper Smith.
Smith only moved to the area shortly before last season began and wasn’t able to get a full season under his belt with the Tigers. In the games and moments he did play, however, he shined. Now, Smith gets a chance to put a full season under his belt with Blue Ridge. He’s emerged as a leader and is excited for the opportunity.
“I love the opportunity; it’s great,” said Smith. “I love being able to put on the jersey. Our community and the people here, they really do care. I truly believe we’ve got the number one fan section in the state.”
The Tigers finished the 2025 season with a 6-5 record, good for the team’s first winning season in over a decade. After an admirable performance in a first-round playoff defeat to Wren, the team is hungry for more this season.
After sliding down from Class 4-A to Class 3-A, Blue Ridge believes it has what it takes to come out on top in a wide-open region. That success will hang largely on this year’s wide-receiver core, headlined by two tall, talented options in Edwards (6-foot-4) and Troupe (6-foot-2).
“I really think we’ve got a chance [to win the region] this year,” said Edwards. “What gives me confidence is just how much we’ve come together. We lost a good group last year, but guys have stepped right up and taken those spots. We’ve got guys ready to take on their new roles and do what they can to contribute.”
“The way we’ve been working together this offseason gives me confidence,” said Troupe. “We’re good in the weight room, on the field, in 7-on7s, everywhere. We’ve got a young group, but I have confidence we’re going to go out there and do well.”
For more coverage of Greer-area athletics, follow @GreerNewsSports on X and GreerNews.com - Sports on Facebook.
