[Gitback Coach]

Of course, many successful middle school athletes eventually succeed at subsequent levels, but as a general rule, no, middle school success doesn't necessarily translate to high school success in the game of football.

I've coached high school football for about 30 years, and personally, I tend to prefer working with freshmen who either haven't played the game at all, or they have played only a year or two before ninth grade.

Usually, those kids who forego the 6-8 years of "feeder system football" taught them from ages 6-14 have far fewer "bad habits" that have to be corrected . . . and they also tend to have far fewer "world championships" and "all state" trophies on their mantles. Therefore, they are usually much more receptive to actual coaching, and they're often more eager/willing to make the changes necessary to succeed.

That's just my experience over the past few decades, though. I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions. These are teenagers we're talking about, after all.