How Can Mindset Beat Physical Talent?
Summary: While having the “prototypical body” in sports—like tall quarterbacks, long-limbed swimmers, or pitchers with big hands—can provide advantages, countless athletes have proven that mindset is the ultimate difference-maker. Kyler Murray, Hali Flickinger, Nolan Ryan, and 2025 Eagles draft pick Mac McWilliams all overcame questions about their size to compete at the highest level. Physical traits may be outside of your control, but adopting a strong competitive mindset, or “Dawg Mentality,” allows athletes to neutralize physical disadvantages and gain the edge over their competition.
Is an athlete without the ideal physical characteristics at a disadvantage in competitive sports?
The “prototypical body” is considered a significant advantage for athletes.
Tall football quarterbacks can see over the linemen and have a better view downfield when they drop back to pass.
In swimming, long limbs provide better leverage against the water.
Baseball pitchers with larger hand sizes can generate more spin on the ball, contributing to sharper breaking pitches.
While height may be a desirable feature for quarterbacks, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is considered undersized at 5’10” yet won the Heisman Trophy and has thrown for 115 touchdowns during his NFL career.
American swimmer Hali Flickinger (5’6″) won a bronze medal in the 200m butterfly and 400 IM at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, considered to be one of the best pitchers in MLB history, had smaller hands than the norm for elite pitchers.
However, the so-called “perfect physical attributes” are no match for an athlete with an optimal mindset. A strong mindset provides the most significant advantage for athletes.
Mind Over Matter
When you have an optimal competitive mindset, you are committed to outworking other athletes. You refuse to accept the limited views of others. You possess a “dawg mentality” where you love the challenge and the opportunity to prove others wrong.
You maximize your physical qualities and work endlessly on your mental skills. When you have an optimal competitive mindset, you rip away any perceived advantage from your competition and firmly secure the edge for yourself.
The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Mac McWilliams in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. At 5’10”, McWilliams is considered undersized for a cornerback by NFL standards. McWilliams heard about his short stature throughout the pre-draft process.
In fact, McWilliams has been told his entire football career that he was too short. While he knows he’s undersized, McWilliams also KNOWS he can successfully compete at the highest level. Before the Eagles’ first rookie practice, McWilliams answered questions by reporters about his height.
McWILLIAMS: “I try really not to think about it. I go out there with the same mindset. I’m the biggest out there. That’s how I feel. So just having that mindset, I really feel like it takes me (far). Since I was little, I have always been the littlest guy so just having the right mindset, taking everything for what it is. All my life, I knew I was going to be undersized. I knew I wasn’t going to grow as much as I wanted to. Just always having that dog in me. Just thinking above, never thinking too low.”
McWilliams’ mindset has been his greatest advantage, an advantage that gave him an edge even against tall wide receivers, as he proved at the 2025 Senior Bowl.
With the right mindset, you can neutralize nonoptimal physical qualities and gain a considerable edge over your opponents throughout your career. While you can’t control your height, limb length, or hand size, you can choose your mindset… And that mindset makes a difference, not just for you, but when you compete against taller, bigger athletes.Remember, body type is outside of your control, but mindset is a choice. Adopt the “Dawg Mindset” and see yourself as the one to beat on the field. Know that your mindset is the difference-maker and not body measurements.Is an athlete without the ideal physical characteristics at a disadvantage in competitive sports?
The “prototypical body” is considered a significant advantage for athletes.
Tall football quarterbacks can see over the linemen and have a better view downfield when they drop back to pass.
In swimming, long limbs provide better leverage against the water.
Baseball pitchers with larger hand sizes can generate more spin on the ball, contributing to sharper breaking pitches.
While height may be a desirable feature for quarterbacks, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is considered undersized at 5’10” yet won the Heisman Trophy and has thrown for 115 touchdowns during his NFL career.
American swimmer Hali Flickinger (5’6″) won a bronze medal in the 200m butterfly and 400 IM at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, considered to be one of the best pitchers in MLB history, had smaller hands than the norm for elite pitchers.
However, the so-called “perfect physical attributes” are no match for an athlete with an optimal mindset. A strong mindset provides the most significant advantage for athletes.
The “Dawg” Mentality
When you have an optimal competitive mindset, you are committed to outworking other athletes. You refuse to accept the limited views of others. You possess a “dawg mentality” where you love the challenge and the opportunity to prove others wrong.
You maximize your physical qualities and work endlessly on your mental skills. When you have an optimal competitive mindset, you rip away any perceived advantage from your competition and firmly secure the edge for yourself.
The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Mac McWilliams in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. At 5’10”, McWilliams is considered undersized for a cornerback by NFL standards. McWilliams heard about his short stature throughout the pre-draft process.
In fact, McWilliams has been told his entire football career that he was too short. While he knows he’s undersized, McWilliams also KNOWS he can successfully compete at the highest level. Before the Eagles’ first rookie practice, McWilliams answered questions by reporters about his height.
McWILLIAMS: “I try really not to think about it. I go out there with the same mindset. I’m the biggest out there. That’s how I feel. So just having that mindset, I really feel like it takes me (far). Since I was little, I have always been the littlest guy so just having the right mindset, taking everything for what it is. All my life, I knew I was going to be undersized. I knew I wasn’t going to grow as much as I wanted to. Just always having that dog in me. Just thinking above, never thinking too low.”
McWilliams’ mindset has been his greatest advantage, an advantage that gave him an edge even against tall wide receivers, as he proved at the 2025 Senior Bowl.
With the right mindset, you can neutralize nonoptimal physical qualities and gain a considerable edge over your opponents throughout your career. While you can’t control your height, limb length, or hand size, you can choose your mindset… And that mindset makes a difference, not just for you, but when you compete against taller, bigger athletes.Remember, body type is outside of your control, but mindset is a choice. Adopt the “Dawg Mindset” and see yourself as the one to beat on the field. Know that your mindset is the difference-maker and not body measurements.
5 Mindset Tips to Overcome Physical Disadvantages in Sports
1. Train Your Mind Like Your Body
Physical training is important, but mental toughness training for athletes is what separates good from great. Commit to building your confidence and resilience daily, just like you would with strength or conditioning. Visualization, breathing strategies, and game-day routines can help you stay calm and focused under pressure.
2. Focus on Your Strengths
Instead of worrying about not fitting the “prototypical body” for your sport, double down on what you already do well. Maybe you’re quicker, more explosive, or more disciplined than your competition. Athletes who concentrate on their strengths often gain a mental edge, because they know exactly how they can impact the game.
3. Use Self-Talk to Stay Confident
Negative thoughts can creep in—especially if you hear constant reminders about being undersized or not fitting the mold. Positive self-talk in sports is one of the best tools to counter doubt. Create phrases you repeat before and during competition, like “I belong here” or “My speed is my strength.” This keeps your confidence steady, no matter the situation.
4. Control What You Can
You can’t control your height, wingspan, or hand size, but you can control your effort, preparation, and mindset. By focusing only on controllables, you strip away distractions and give yourself the best chance to perform. This approach not only builds consistency but also reinforces belief in your ability to compete.
5. Adopt the Dawg Mentality
The “Dawg Mindset” is about refusing to let others define your limits. Undersized athletes like Kyler Murray, Hali Flickinger, Nolan Ryan, and Mac McWilliams succeeded because they embraced challenges, outworked others, and saw themselves as the toughest competitor on the field. When you compete with a dawg mentality, you turn supposed disadvantages into fuel that drives your success.
FAQ – Mental Talent v. Physical Talent
Q: Can athletes without the ideal body type still succeed in competitive sports?
A: Yes. While physical traits like height or limb length may help in certain sports, athletes such as Kyler Murray, Hali Flickinger, and Nolan Ryan prove that mindset, skill, and relentless work ethic matter far more in long-term success.
Q: How does mindset impact athletic performance?
A: A strong competitive mindset helps athletes stay confident, bounce back from mistakes, and perform under pressure. Mental skills such as visualization, positive self-talk, and focus training give athletes an edge even when they lack physical “prototypes.”
Q: What is the Dawg Mentality in sports?
A: The Dawg Mentality is the belief that you can compete with anyone, regardless of size or stature. It’s about confidence, toughness, and refusing to let limitations define you. Athletes with a dawg mindset see themselves as the toughest competitor on the field.
Q: What can undersized athletes do to gain an edge?
A: Undersized athletes can gain an edge by maximizing their strengths, committing to mental training, and focusing on controllable factors like preparation, conditioning, and effort. With consistent mental toughness training, they can neutralize physical disadvantages.
Q: Is mental training as important as physical training for athletes?
A: Absolutely. Physical training builds your body, but mental training strengthens your confidence, focus, and resilience. The best athletes in the world combine both to compete at the highest level.
Related Sports Psychology Article
- Embracing the Underdog Mindset in Sports
- Team Mindset and the Next-Man-Up Mentality
- How to Keep a Positive Mindset for Non-Starters
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