Millions of children love sports, and they proclaim their dream of becoming a pro athlete. But they lack to perspective to understand how truly daunting that can be.

The Middle School Rules celebrates the fulfillment of a dream of each featured athlete by focusing on their defining childhood stories, from the lessons they learned, to the challenges they tackled.

We honor each athlete by not watering down their experiences and so we do address difficult topics such as divorce, drugs and racial profiling, though we always do so in an age-appropriate manner.

Each title is available at most major book retailers.

The Middle School Rules of Mike Evans

Before he starred for one of the most dynamic offenses in college and the pros, he had to survive middle school.

Mike Evans is in his ninth season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The four-time Pro Bowl selection is one of the NFL’s most consistent and feared receivers. He played a key role in helping the Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV, leading his team in every major receiving category during the regular season and catching 11 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns in the postseason. He is the only player in NFL history to start his career having eight consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. He and his wife, Ashli, started the Mike Evans Family Foundation in 2017, focusing on empowering youth, encouraging education, and taking a stand against domestic violence.

The Middle School Rules of Mike Evans highlights the adversity Mike had to overcome in his childhood, the impact of growing up in Galveston (an island city on the Gulf Coast of Texas that was greatly affected by Hurricane Ike), and the people who shaped him most—especially after the devastating loss of his father.

The Middle School Rules of Mike Evans

Before he starred for one of the most dynamic offenses in college and the pros, he had to survive middle school.

Mike Evans is in his ninth season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The four-time Pro Bowl selection is one of the NFL’s most consistent and feared receivers. He played a key role in helping the Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV, leading his team in every major receiving category during the regular season and catching 11 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns in the postseason. He is the only player in NFL history to start his career having eight consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. He and his wife, Ashli, started the Mike Evans Family Foundation in 2017, focusing on empowering youth, encouraging education, and taking a stand against domestic violence.

The Middle School Rules of Mike Evans highlights the adversity Mike had to overcome in his childhood, the impact of growing up in Galveston (an island city on the Gulf Coast of Texas that was greatly affected by Hurricane Ike), and the people who shaped him most—especially after the devastating loss of his father.

The Middle School Rules of Thomas Morstead

“Before he earned a Super Bowl ring and started a foundation, he had to survive middle school.”

Thomas Morstead entered his 12th NFL season with the New Orleans Saints, distinguishing himself as one of the league’s top punters. In Super Bowl XLIV, he executed an onside kick that the Saints recovered and parlayed into a touchdown to take a 13-10 lead. The Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts to win the Super Bowl. In 2014, Thomas and his wife Lauren started What You Give Will Grow, a foundation committed to improving the lives of those in need, with a strong focus on children and cancer initiatives, in New Orleans and the Gulf South communities.

The Middle School Rules of Thomas Morstead shares how Thomas learned about his cultural roots, handled being bullied for his appearance, and dealt with the disappointment of not making the high school varsity soccer team. Inspired by many, including his parents, Thomas pushes himself in every area of his life and boldly chases his dreams.

The Middle School Rules of Vontae Davis

Before he became a first-round draft pick in the NFL, he had to survive middle school.

Over one million boys play high school football every year. About 6.5% become collegiate players. Of those, only 1.5% reach the NFL. Those odds were daunting for a young Vontae Davis who endured many challenges as his parents battled addiction. At age 11, Vontae and his siblings faced living in separate foster homes, but Grandma Adaline refused to allow it—adopting and raising all seven children despite financial difficulties. With some guidance from his older brother Vernon (two-time Pro Bowl tight end) Vontae earned a college football scholarship, and after three years entered the NFL.

The Middle School Rules of Vontae Davis features Vontae’s defining childhood stories and lessons learned growing up in a rough Washington D.C. neighborhood. Young readers will see how Vontae thrived with the support of those around him—none more important than his grandmother. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Vontae was named an NFL Players Association Community MVP during the 2015 season.

The Middle School Rules of Vontae Davis

Before he became a first-round draft pick in the NFL, he had to survive middle school.

Over one million boys play high school football every year. About 6.5% become collegiate players. Of those, only 1.5% reach the NFL. Those odds were daunting for a young Vontae Davis who endured many challenges as his parents battled addiction. At age 11, Vontae and his siblings faced living in separate foster homes, but Grandma Adaline refused to allow it—adopting and raising all seven children despite financial difficulties. With some guidance from his older brother Vernon (two-time Pro Bowl tight end) Vontae earned a college football scholarship, and after three years entered the NFL.

The Middle School Rules of Vontae Davis features Vontae’s defining childhood stories and lessons learned growing up in a rough Washington D.C. neighborhood. Young readers will see how Vontae thrived with the support of those around him—none more important than his grandmother. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Vontae was named an NFL Players Association Community MVP during the 2015 season.

The Middle School Rules of Jamaal Charles

Five running backs were selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Jamaal Charles was not among them. Despite piling up the fourth-most rushing yards at the University of Texas in just three seasons, he waited for eight other running backs to get selected ahead of him.

The Middle School Rules of Jamaal Charles features the stories and lessons of Jamaal’s childhood, defined by people overlooking him. Young readers will see how Jamaal deals with bullying and endures teasing because of a long undiag- nosed learning disability that enabled him to participate in the Special Olympics as a 10-year-old. The gold medals he won at the Special Olympics empowered him, and Jamaal displayed a rare work ethic and determination in everything he did on the field and in the classroom.

“I just kept working, just kept fighting,” Jamaal says. “If you give up, you will not ever know how far you would have gotten.”

The Middle School Rules of Skylar Diggins

Skylar Diggins is a basketball phenomenon, receiving her first letter of interest from a respected college coach when she was in fifth grade. She is an icon: signing as the first female client of Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports, serving as the face of Nike’s Women’s Basketball Collection, and establishing herself as a must-follow on social media platforms such as Instagram (931,000 followers) and Twitter (604,000 followers).

The Middle School Rules of Skylar Diggins features Skylar’s defining childhood stories and lessons about growing up in a diverse middle-class family. Young readers will learn how Skylar dealt with bullying, struggled to fit in at school, and figured out how to excel in basketball despite never being the tallest, strongest, or fastest player.

Skylar shares personal anecdotes that helped her become the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year and one of the most decorated collegiate basketball players. “She was the most important recruit in the history of our program,” Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach, Muffet McGraw, says. “Skylar was in our own backyard, and we couldn’t let her get away.”

The Middle School Rules of Skylar Diggins

Skylar Diggins is a basketball phenomenon, receiving her first letter of interest from a respected college coach when she was in fifth grade. She is an icon: signing as the first female client of Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports, serving as the face of Nike’s Women’s Basketball Collection, and establishing herself as a must-follow on social media platforms such as Instagram (931,000 followers) and Twitter (604,000 followers).

The Middle School Rules of Skylar Diggins features Skylar’s defining childhood stories and lessons about growing up in a diverse middle-class family. Young readers will learn how Skylar dealt with bullying, struggled to fit in at school, and figured out how to excel in basketball despite never being the tallest, strongest, or fastest player.

Skylar shares personal anecdotes that helped her become the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year and one of the most decorated collegiate basketball players. “She was the most important recruit in the history of our program,” Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach, Muffet McGraw, says. “Skylar was in our own backyard, and we couldn’t let her get away.”

The Middle School Rules of Charles Tillman

In 2005, Tillman and his wife Jackie established the Cornerstone Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and opportunities to children in need. Tillman was a 2012 finalist for the NFL Players Association’s Byron White Man of the Year award, and he was the 2013 winner of the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award, which “recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.”

The Middle School Rules of Charles Tillman will feature the defining childhood stories of a young, well-traveled boy nicknamed “Peanut,” who had to deal with racism, adapt to constant relocation, and endure the divorce of his parents. Inspired by faith and family, Tillman persevered and carved out an indelible mark both on and off the field.

In 2005, Tillman and his wife Jackie established the Cornerstone Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and opportunities to children in need. Tillman was a 2012 finalist for the NFL Players Association’s Byron White Man of the Year award, and he was the 2013 winner of the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award, which “recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.”

The Middle School Rules of Charles Tillman will feature the defining childhood stories of a young, well-traveled boy nicknamed “Peanut,” who had to deal with racism, adapt to constant relocation, and endure the divorce of his parents. Inspired by faith and family, Tillman persevered and carved out an indelible mark both on and off the field.

The Middle School Rules of Brian Urlacher

For more than a decade, Brian Urlacher was the face of the Chicago Bears - one of the NFL's most storied franchises. An eight-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, Urlacher established himself as one of the league's preeminent defenders with his athleticism, intelligence, and ferocity. He's widely expected to gain entrance into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he's eligible in a few years. That's not bad for an athlete from Lovington, New Mexico, where his coaches didn't even see college potential in him until his junior year of high school.

The Middle School Rules of Brian Urlacher is the first book in The Middle School Rules series. It features the real-life childhood stories and exploits of young Brian Urlacher and illustrate how they shaped him into a world-class athlete.

The Middle School Rules series will not only enlighten but inspire greatness in the next generation by highlighting the importance of being their best, overcoming adversity, and reaching their dreams through discipline and hard work.

The Middle School Rules of Brian Urlacher

For more than a decade, Brian Urlacher was the face of the Chicago Bears - one of the NFL's most storied franchises. An eight-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, Urlacher established himself as one of the league's preeminent defenders with his athleticism, intelligence, and ferocity. He's widely expected to gain entrance into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he's eligible in a few years. That's not bad for an athlete from Lovington, New Mexico, where his coaches didn't even see college potential in him until his junior year of high school.

The Middle School Rules of Brian Urlacher is the first book in The Middle School Rules series. It features the real-life childhood stories and exploits of young Brian Urlacher and illustrate how they shaped him into a world-class athlete.

The Middle School Rules series will not only enlighten but inspire greatness in the next generation by highlighting the importance of being their best, overcoming adversity, and reaching their dreams through discipline and hard work.