A year ago the Greeneville football team was one game short of advancing to the state championship game. Since then the Greene Devils have spent countless hours in the weight room and on the practice field preparing to make another deep playoff push.
Now we are less than two-weeks away from seeing the fruits of that labor, and the Greene Devils are excited to kickoff the 2026 season.
“I’m really excited with how this group is working,” Greeneville coach Eddie Spradlen said. “We have a lot of kids that are really hungry and getting after it in the weight room. We graduated some really good players, and you are always looking for those pieces that are going to fit the puzzle. It’s been really fun to see who is going to step and fill those roles.”
Greeneville finished 2025 with a 12-2 record and will have another tough slate in 2026. That will start on August 21 against Morristown West. On August 28 the Greene Devils travel to Upperman and on September 25 they will host Class 5A power Sevier County. The regular season will wrap up on October 30 with a trip to Region 1-4A rival Elizabethton.
Last year’s Devils were led by quarterback Caden Baugh who brought home Class 4A’s Mr. Football Award. Baugh is now playing Virginia Military Institute, and the question all offseason has been, who will be Greeneville’s next quarterback?
Senior Kaine Ricker has emerged from a four-man battle that lasted all offseason, and Spradlen is excited for what he can do with some dynamic players around him.
While Ricker is the new QB1 Spradlen feels the quarterback room is deep and Parker Quillen, Kase Spradlen and Hudson Quillen are all capable of successfully leading the offense.
Where the Greene Devils’ offense may shine brightest this season is on the edge and that starts with senior receiver Taren Claridy who has been uncoverable at times in the preseason. Claridy was an All-State defensive back as a junior and now that he is noticeably bigger, faster and stronger Spradlen thinks he is primmed for a monster season.
“I expect big things from Taren,” Spradlen said. “I think he had around 35 catches last year, and we have to get him the ball more this year. When he has stepped on the field this summer he has been the best player regardless of position. He has gotten bigger, but I think he may be more explosive. He can be special when he gets the ball in his hands.”
Joining Claridy is a talented crew of playmakers who have impressed in the preseason. First among those are sophomore Zy Neal and senior Braylen Kidwell. Both are explosive playmakers who can take a pass of any distance and finish in the endzone. Ricker will have a pair of big targets to look to as well in 6’2” senior Cole Smith and 6’3” junior Amir Knight.
In the backfield Jude Dyer returns as Greeneville’s leading rusher from a year ago and the Devils will once again count on him to lead run game. Yordan Mills has had a strong offseason and Spradlen expects him to play an important roll on offense. Jack Lister and Kaleb Smith will also provide depth at running back.
Greeneville will have an almost entirely new look on the offensive line with just junior Dillon Hartman returning to the starting lineup. Hartman will hold down one guard spot and Chuckey-Doak transfer Gustavo Alvarez will occupy the other.
Baylor Smith will play center while Jack DeAngelis and Jayden Francisco will hold down the tackle spots. Caedon Hirschy has been injured much of the offseason, but Spradlen expects him to challenge for a starting spot once completely healthy.
Even though the group has little varsity experience the Devils will still have high expectations for their line. How quickly those new starters develop will play a big part in determining how successful Greeneville is this season.
“If your offensive line struggles, your offense struggles. Any time we have been good it started with the offensive line. Coach Bentley does a really good job with that group, and he always has them ready regardless of talent,” Spradlen said.
On defense the Greene Devils will be led by their linebackers and Spradlen is excited about the talent and depth they have at the position. That starts with senior leaders Cole Smith and Jack Lister. Lister led the team in tackles a year ago and is a top candidate to do so again this year. Smith was elected a captain a year ago as a junior, but his season was cut short because of knee injury. He is healthy once again and Spradlen is excited to have him back in the lineup.
Alongside those two Dyer returns to the defensive lineup as well. Mills will be expected to play a bigger role this season, as will Kaleb Smith and Ty Riban. The coaching staff feels like the entire group is capable of helping the defense this year and may get creative with how they utilize them this season.
“We have more linebacker depth than I felt like we have had in a while. We have to figure out how to get as many of them on the field at the same time as we can,” Spradlen said. “They are all big strong kids and we may walk some of them down to defensive end in certain situations. You might see more three front on the line to get more of those guys on the field. I’m really excited about that group.”
In the secondary Claridy returns as an All-State selection and may move between corner and safety this year. Ricker made eight interceptions last year at safety and even though he is starting at quarterback Spradlen thinks he is too valuable on defense to take off the field.
“Kaine had like eight interceptions on defense last year and you don’t want to take that off the field,” Spradlen said. “He wants to play defense, and for us to be the best team we can be he needs to be out there. He’s a competitor and tough-nosed kid, and at free safety he’s not going to be in the mix all of the time.”
Knight will also be a part of the safety rotation. At corner along with Claridy will be Kidwell and Neal.
The defensive line will have of the same names as the offensive line with Hartman, Alvarez, Smith, DeAngelis, Francisco, Hirschy, Aahmad Dickson and Caden Jordan all expected to play important roles.
On special teams Gannon Cogdell has come over from the soccer team to handle the kicking duties, and Grayson Crosby has come over from the baseball team to handle the punting duties.
