Through the Fire: Chattooga’s Luis Medina Finds Loyalty and Leadership at Troy

Troy University recently published an inspiring feature titled Through the Fire: Luis Medina’s Relentless Journey with Troy Football, and it’s a story that hits close to home for Chattooga County. Medina, a graduate of Chattooga High School, has built a career in Division I football that goes far beyond stats or highlight reels. It’s about grit, loyalty, and a refusal to quit when things get hard.

By 2025, Medina has already earned his college degree and is preparing for graduate school—but he’s also returning to Troy for a sixth season, determined to finish what he started. His path hasn’t been easy. Since arriving in 2020, he’s endured a season-ending injury, the disruption of COVID-19, and the challenge of playing under three different head coaches. In an era when many athletes transfer at the first opportunity, Medina stayed.

In the article, Medina reflects on his upbringing—first in New Jersey with his grandparents, then in Georgia, where his family lived in a crowded two-bedroom home. Those years, he says, taught him unity, sacrifice, and how to bring people together. Those lessons became the foundation for his leadership style at Troy.

Even after fracturing his foot during a 2022 game, he finished playing that day and returned stronger than ever. As coaches came and went, Medina remains committed to Troy and to his teammates, using his example to show younger players what loyalty looks like in modern college football.

As Medina enters his final season, he represents more than just a veteran presence on the field—he’s a symbol of resilience for both Troy University and the Chattooga community that helped raise him.

Read the full Troy University feature here:
Through the Fire: Luis Medina’s Relentless Journey with Troy Football