For over a dozen years, I’ve observed a growing trend in football: as speed training techniques are refined and mastered, athletes who are naturally gifted and run a 4.5 in 8th grade are quickly losing that advantage as they enter college and don’t see the same rate of improvement as bigger, stronger players from the Midwest.
Over time, these Midwest athletes, while initially a step slower, close the gap in speed while maintaining their physical superiority. They combine this with an unmatched work ethic and a relentless dedication to training. The result? An emerging dominance from Midwest schools and players at every level of competition.
While you can’t train to become a once-in-a-generation talent like Jeremiah Smith, the combination of size, strength, and a deep commitment to improvement is shifting the balance of power in football. This trend is evident in recent championships:
The future of the sport will see more and more of these Midwest athletes and schools rise to the top as the Southern schools and athletes do not train or prepare like their northern counterparts.
Over time, these Midwest athletes, while initially a step slower, close the gap in speed while maintaining their physical superiority. They combine this with an unmatched work ethic and a relentless dedication to training. The result? An emerging dominance from Midwest schools and players at every level of competition.
While you can’t train to become a once-in-a-generation talent like Jeremiah Smith, the combination of size, strength, and a deep commitment to improvement is shifting the balance of power in football. This trend is evident in recent championships:
- Division I: Notre Dame (Indiana) or Ohio State
- FCS: North Dakota State University
- Division II: Ferris State (Michigan)
- Division III: North Central (Illinois)
- NAIA: Grand View (Iowa)
The future of the sport will see more and more of these Midwest athletes and schools rise to the top as the Southern schools and athletes do not train or prepare like their northern counterparts.