---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In eighth grade, I was actually better in…"
description: "\"In eighth grade, I was actually better in football. I played running back, wide receiver, and safety - just like Allen Iverson.\" — John Wall"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/john-wall-9201_back_in-eighth-grade-i-was-actually-better-in_1946305.jpg"
---

#  In eighth grade, I was actually better in football. I…

![“In eighth grade, I was actually better in football. I played running back, wide receiver, and safety - just like Allen Iverson.” quote by John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/john-wall-9201_back_in-eighth-grade-i-was-actually-better-in_1946305.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/john-wall-9201_back_in-eighth-grade-i-was-actually-better-in_1946305.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/john-wall-9201_back_in-eighth-grade-i-was-actually-better-in_1946305.jpg)

> “In eighth grade, I was actually better in football. I played running back, wide receiver, and safety - just like Allen Iverson.”

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He compares his high school football versatility to Allen Iverson’s multi‑position skill set.

**In simple terms:** He was a versatile football player in eighth grade.

Key Takeaway

Embrace multi‑skill development.

Themes

sports versatility role models

Mood

motivational proud

Type

sports inspirational

When to use this quote

- middle school sports
- football positions

Key Concepts

athletic development position flexibility

Questions to Reflect On

- What benefits come from playing multiple positions?
- How can versatility affect future opportunities?

A Different Perspective

May overstate similarity to a pro athlete.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Eighth grade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eighth-grade/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Wide receiver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide-receiver/)

## Related quotes

> [I was a ball guy. I played basketball, baseball, football. I excelled in football the most. I played running back, wide receiver, safety, kick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enzo-amore/i-was-a-ball-guy-i-played-basketball-baseball-football-i-excelled-in/)

[Enzo Amore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enzo-amore/)

> [It was fun, having speed and being able to jump. Especially playing football. I played wide receiver and defensive back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacoby-ellsbury/it-was-fun-having-speed-and-being-able-to-jump-especially-playing/)

[Jacoby Ellsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacoby-ellsbury/)

> [You can't really train yourself to be hit. It's more of a mental thing. Growing up, I played running back a good bit, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deebo-samuel/you-can-t-really-train-yourself-to-be-hit-it-s-more-of-a-mental-thing/)

[Deebo Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deebo-samuel/)

> [I started when I was in sixth grade, playing Pop Warner. I played running back, quarterback, cornerback... all over the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/i-started-when-i-was-in-sixth-grade-playing-pop-warner-i-played/)

[Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/)

> [Where else but the NBA could people like Bill Russell, Spencer Haywood, Ricky Barry, Dennis Rodman, and Allen Iverson come in and be allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/where-else-but-the-nba-could-people-like-bill-russell-spencer-haywood/)

[Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/)

> [Allen Iverson was the Tupac of basketball; he was a true revolutionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fat-joe/allen-iverson-was-the-tupac-of-basketball-he-was-a-true-revolutionary/)

[Fat Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fat-joe/)

> [I had the opportunity to play alongside Allen Iverson and Kevin Ollie at the same time. I kind of had the best of both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-williams/i-had-the-opportunity-to-play-alongside-allen-iverson-and-kevin-ollie/)

[Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-williams/)

> [One of my big influences as a young player was Allen Iverson. All I wanted to do was the left-to-right crossover, because that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/one-of-my-big-influences-as-a-young-player-was-allen-iverson-all-i/)

[Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/)

> [The Stepover definitely made me famous. The thing with Allen Iverson is, he made me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyronn-lue/the-stepover-definitely-made-me-famous-the-thing-with-allen-iverson/)

[Tyronn Lue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyronn-lue/)

> [Once upon a time, it was hard to decipher what was more difficult to stomach: the foolish, detrimental behavior of a professional athlete or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/once-upon-a-time-it-was-hard-to-decipher-what-was-more-difficult-to/)

[Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/)

> [I try to penetrate the lane like Steve Nash, pass like Jason Kidd, and handle the ball like Allen Iverson. Remember, I said 'try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-paul/i-try-to-penetrate-the-lane-like-steve-nash-pass-like-jason-kidd-and/)

[Chris Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-paul/)

> [They gave Ariel Castro Life+1,000years in jail...I bet'cha another inmate cant even come to him &amp; bitch about they time...a person can come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ig-catone-2-funny/they-gave-ariel-castro-life-1-000years-in-jail-i-bet-cha-another/)

IG:catone\_2\_funny

> [So fill up my cup, let's get fucked up. I'm next on the table, who want what? I am champion at beer pong, Allen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-roth/so-fill-up-my-cup-let-s-get-fucked-up-i-m-next-on-the-table-who-want/)

[Asher Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-roth/)

> [You can't be Allen Iverson on a football team. And even Iverson got run out of Philadelphia when he was still a spectacular talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/you-can-t-be-allen-iverson-on-a-football-team-and-even-iverson-got/)

[Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/)

> [When you win, everything is everything. But when you lose, it's all about Allen Iverson and Larry Brown. When we win, I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-iverson/when-you-win-everything-is-everything-but-when-you-lose-it-s-all/)

[Allen Iverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-iverson/)

## More by John Wall

> [I don't enjoy it ... I love the game. I can watch it all day. I can play it all day. Sometimes my mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/i-don-t-enjoy-it-i-love-the-game-i-can-watch-it-all-day-i-can-play-it/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [This is a major step forward for this innovative and one-of-a-kind system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/this-is-a-major-step-forward-for-this-innovative-and-one-of-a-kind/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [When I'm going against guys like Kevin Durant - one of the best leading scorers in the league - it pushes you to want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/when-i-m-going-against-guys-like-kevin-durant-one-of-the-best-leading/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [Our issue is local control, local government by local elected people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/our-issue-is-local-control-local-government-by-local-elected-people/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [Not everybody's going to have a perfect relationship with every great player on their team. But when I step between those lines and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/not-everybody-s-going-to-have-a-perfect-relationship-with-every-great/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [I may be growing upbut I dont want to grow up too fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/i-may-be-growing-upbut-i-dont-want-to-grow-up-too-fast/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [I've just got to go out there and play, don't try to do stuff that I'm not used to doing, do the best thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/i-ve-just-got-to-go-out-there-and-play-don-t-try-to-do-stuff-that-i-m/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [I just wasnt a happy kid. I was mad all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/i-just-wasnt-a-happy-kid-i-was-mad-all-the-time/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [The best thing is the win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/the-best-thing-is-the-win/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [The main thing I do is to carry myself as best as I can on my pro level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/the-main-thing-i-do-is-to-carry-myself-as-best-as-i-can-on-my-pro/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [When you're looking for innovative and creative solutions to problems, the more diverse perspective you can bring, the more likely you can come up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/when-you-re-looking-for-innovative-and-creative-solutions-to-problems/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [My goal is to go in there, win games and change the organization around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/my-goal-is-to-go-in-there-win-games-and-change-the-organization-around/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [Basketball is my escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/basketball-is-my-escape/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [You always gotta do the right thing: you never know who's watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/you-always-gotta-do-the-right-thing-you-never-know-who-s-watching/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

> [I feel like I have to step on the court every night and be dominant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/i-feel-like-i-have-to-step-on-the-court-every-night-and-be-dominant/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

[Explore all 74 John Wall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

## More Back quotes

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/)

[Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/)

> [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/)

[Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/)

> [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/)

[Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/)

> [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/)

[George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/)

> [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/)

[Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/)

> [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/)

[Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/)

> [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/)

[Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/)

> [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/)

[Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/)

> [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/)

[Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/)

> [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/)

[Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/)

> [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/)

[Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/)

> [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/)

[Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/)

> [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/)

[Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/)

Browse all 9,709 Back quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In eighth grade, I was actually better in football. I played running back, wide receiver, and safety - just like Allen Iverson.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Wall"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/in-eighth-grade-i-was-actually-better-in-football-i-played-running/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Back"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/in-eighth-grade-i-was-actually-better-in-football-i-played-running/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/john-wall-9201_back_in-eighth-grade-i-was-actually-better-in_1946305.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/john-wall-9201_back_in-eighth-grade-i-was-actually-better-in_1946305.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/john-wall-9201_back_in-eighth-grade-i-was-actually-better-in_1946305.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In eighth grade, I was actually better in football. I played running back, wide receiver, and safety - just…” — John Wall",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Wall",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In eighth grade, I was actually...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/in-eighth-grade-i-was-actually-better-in-football-i-played-running/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/in-eighth-grade-i-was-actually-better-in-football-i-played-running/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
