2025 Preview: Blue Ridge Tigers

A large amount of returning senior starters - led by a true dual-threat quarterback - and some key additions from the basketball team has Blue Ridge fired up for year two of its return to Class 4A. The program, which was never in a bigger classification than Class 2A until 2000, is one of the smallest in 4A. Despite that, the Tigers improved from a 1-10 season in Class 3A two years ago to a 4-7 mark last season.   Blue Ridge will try to build off some of the positives from last season, especially offensively. In three of those four victories, the Tigers scored at least 41 points. Leading the way there will be senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1738823' first='Gavin' last='Forrester'] (pictured above). While he will no longer have standout running back KB Henderson to hand off to, Forrester will look to continue to pile up his yards - either through the air or on the ground.   "He was an 800/800 (yards passing and rushing) guy a year ago. He missed a couple of games with a bad ankle injury, came back from it, but then re-injured it. He would've been a 1,000/1,000 guy had he stayed healthy," Blue Ridge coach John Boggs said. "This will be his third year starting for us and his experience at that position is just so valuable. You can really see as this summer's gone along, the game's really slowed down for him a lot."   Two players who wear a lot of hats will have a lot to say in just how potent the Tigers' offense will be. They are [player_tooltip player_id='1819617' first='Jakorey' last='Dodd'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1734718' first='Mitchell' last='Bobbitt']. Dodd lines up in the secondary on defense, while on offense, he could be at running back, wide receiver or Wildcat quarterback. He's also the primary kick returner.   "He's the kind of guy who doesn't want to come off the field and we really don't want him to either," Boggs said.   Dodd can't choose what he likes doing the most on the gridiron.   "I love it all," Dodd said.   Bobbitt, who led Blue Ridge in receiving last season, has been an "explosive" receiver this summer according to Boggs. Bobbitt also handles the place kicking, kickoff and punting duties.   Among the leaders on defense will be a new, but familiar face. [player_tooltip player_id='1399632' first='Ty'Korian' last='Campbell'] rejoined the football team for his senior season after concentrating on basketball last year. Campbell, who will play outside linebacker and H-back, made a splash as a sophomore in 2023 as one of the Tigers' best tacklers.   "He's a long, athletic guy," Boggs said. "We instantly became better the day he walked on the field."   Two of the leading returning tackles from last year's team are senior safety Braylon Cosme and junior cornerback Max Gonzalez. In addition to the stops, they each had an interception and a fumble recovery.   Another basketball player back in the football mix this year is junior receiver Braylon Edwards. He missed the rest of the season after breaking his collarbone in Week 2 last year. Another receiver capable of big plays returning is senior Tyson Hicks.   Forrester, Dodd and Bobbitt all believe chemistry will be the biggest key for the Tigers this season.   "I've never been a part of a team with better chemistry than this one," Bobbitt said.   They are three of many seniors, who've been part of Blue Ridge's program since their first days in the weight room in middle school. Boggs believes strong relationships between the players themselves, players and coaches and players and teachers are very important in 2025. That helps grow a program where guys want to stay together to be able to play together.   "You're just always on the same page, which really helps on the field," Forrester said. "For me personally, after the injuries last season, I'm ready to go play right now (in July)."   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1738823' first='Gavin' last='Forrester'] QB/DB, 2026 - Forrester passed for 848 yards and ran for 841 last season. He had 11 rushing touchdowns and averaged 6.6 yards per carry. Forrester completed 55.2 percent of his passes and had seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.   [player_tooltip player_id='1734718' first='Mitchell' last='Bobbitt'] ATH, 2026 - Bobbitt led Blue Ridge with 19 receptions for 231 yards and had 48 yards rushing on three carries last season. He also had four touchbacks on kickoffs, made 29-of-32 extra points and had a long punt of 52 yards.   Tyson Hicks WR/OLB, 2026 - While Dodd caught two of Blue Ridge's seven passing touchdowns last season, Hicks hauled in the rest. Hicks found the end zone five times out of just 11 receptions and finished with 151 yards receiving.   [player_tooltip player_id='1399632' first='Ty'Korian' last='Campbell'] OLB/RB 2026 - Campbell had 35 tackles including four tackles-for-loss as a sophomore in 2023 before concentrating on basketball last year. On the court last winter, he averaged a double-double with 12.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1819617' first='Jakorey' last='Dodd'] ATH, 2026 - While Dodd didn't put up an eye-popping total in any particular stat total year, the amount of stat categories checked off stands out. He had 295 yards rushing, 110 receiving, eight passing, 379 on kick returns, 115 on punt returns and 59 on interception returns. Dodd also had 14 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and seven touchdowns (four rushing, two receiving and one kick return).    BIGGEST LOSSES   KB Henderson RB - Henderson wrapped up a terrific high school career with 1,117 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns last season. He's now at Erskine.   Jackson Lanier OL - Lanier helped pave the way for quite of few of those long runs by Henderson and Forrester. He's now playing at Anderson.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1818241' first='Marquiel' last='Troupe'] WR/DE, 2028 - Troupe will be making the transition from JV to Varsity this season after what Boggs calls a "really good offseason." The sophomore has the potential to be an impact player, especially as a rush end.   Braylon Edwards WR, 2027 - The collarbone injury Edwards suffered two weeks into last season ended what looked to be a promising season before it really ever started. At 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds, Edwards is a big target in the passing game.    Gonzalez is Blue Ridge's leading returning tackler as he had 28 stops as a sophomore last season. As evidenced in this clip from the Tigers' spring game this season, he could also be an elusive force on offense.

A large amount of returning senior starters - led by a true dual-threat quarterback - and some key additions from the basketball team has Blue Ridge fired up for year two of its return to Class 4A. The program, which was never in a bigger classification than Class 2A until 2000, is one of the smallest in 4A. Despite that, the Tigers improved from a 1-10 season in Class 3A two years ago to a 4-7 mark last season.