Donald Trump Played High School Football

Donald Trump has a pigskin past -- saying he played football "at a very low level" back in high school ... and learned some important life lessons on the gridiron.

The GOP presidential candidate was touring the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on Wednesday when he explained how the game prepares people for the real world.

FYI, Trump's classmates at the New York Military Academy have raved about Donald's athletic ability back in the day ... especially on the baseball field.

"He was just the best, a good athlete, a great athlete," former classmate Ted Levine told Business Insider.

"He could have probably played pro ball as a pitcher. I think he threw 80 miles an hour. I was the catcher. He made my hand black and blue every day."

"Could he play football? Could he play soccer? He could do anything he wanted. He was physically and mentally gifted."