“Your mindset is everything. Some guys look at it as ‘Oh no, we have to play in the snow.” I look at it as ‘I get to play in the snow.’ It’s all about developing the right mindset.”
He said that mindset started for him in high school with Coach Jeff Dock and other team leaders. “Coach Dock helped me with my faith, going to chapel and really working hard on that positive mindset. That, combined with tons of practice, experience, and lots and lots of kicks, all makes me feel comfortable.”
Even in stressful situations, Middleton said he’s prepared. “I kick so much and so many times, I can sometimes get tired and lose focus. But then I remind myself that I have to stay focused and do what I know I can do.”
Dock said Middleton is a rare special teams player who does it all. While many teams have players who specialize in only punting or kicking field goals, Middleton does it all. “He punts, kicks field goals, and the point-after attempts. He kicks and then he can go up and block for someone else. That says a lot about how talented he really is.”
Middleton’s diversity also allows his team to come up with some creative plays and fakes that help lead them to wins. “It’s fun. It’s nice being versatile and not only doing the kick offs and field goals sometimes,” Middleton said.
His abilities as a kicker were recognized early in high school. He still holds the school record for a 52-yard field goal in a game.
Middleton said he has many great memories of playing for TK. “I was part of the sophomore class that moved up to varsity and that gave us all a lot of experience. I was able to contribute and loved the group of guys on the team. We made it to the third round of the playoffs my senior year for the first time in over 10 years and that was a lot of fun,” he said.
Middleton said stepping up to the college level takes even more dedication. In addition to his hours in games, practices, team meetings, and workouts, he takes a rigorous course load for his degree in mechanical engineering and maintains over a 3.8 GPA. In 2023 he was recognized as being only one of five player-athletes in the GLIAC with a 4.0 GPA and receiving Academic Excellence honors. He has little free time; managing his schedule takes discipline and commitment.
“It's important to be in the weight room. Sleeping, eating healthy, hydrating and stretching - all are important. Sleep is especially important,” he said and getting his 7-8 hours per night is something that doesn’t always come easily on a college schedule.
His commitment and drive have helped him gain many rewards. He’s been named the GLIAC Player of the Week three times this year. In 2023, Middleton was one of the Ferris State players selected to visit the White House as the D2 national championship team. “It was incredible. We had to go through a lot of security checks and a lot of waiting to get into the White House. It was a very long day, but it was pretty sweet.”
On the field, his stats tell his story. This year alone, he scored 107 points; successfully completed 7 of 8 field goal attempts with the longest being 45 yards; made 86 of 94 point after attempts; and had 37 punts for 1,604 yards averaging 47.1 yards per punt.
His advice to younger players is simple. “Stay disciplined. Surround yourself with the right people who will help you develop the right mindset. That happened for me at TK and at Ferris. It helps you achieve the goals you set for yourself. Your mindset controls everything. It controls how you hold others accountable and how you hold yourself accountable, as well.”
Middleton has one more year of eligibility to play football in 2025 and looks forward to graduating in December 2025. “Hopefully one more national championship. I hope I get to keep punting and kicking. We’ll see what happens after that.”