Linemen In A (Weight) Class Of Their Own

It is not unusual to see a 300-pound lineman in the NFL or playing for a major college program.

But lately, it has become a common sight on most high school football teams.

Look on most rosters in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties this season and you are bound to find one or two - if not multiple - 300-pound players on a team.

At Chamberlain High, juniors Jarvis Henderson and Eric Hammond and senior Danny Major are a combined 975 pounds. That is almost half the weight of the entire Carrollwood Day School varsity team.

In general, teenagers today are struggling with obesity. According to a 2006 Gallup youth study, 18 percent of American teens ages 13 to 17 described themselves as overweight. A 2007 Iowa State University study found nearly half of the offensive and defensive linemen playing on Iowa high school teams qualify as overweight, and one in 10 meets the medical standards for severe obesity.

The size issue has even made its way down to youth football.

Scott Levinson, president of the Tampa Bay Youth Football League, has been involved in youth football for more than 20 years. He is noticing the changes in players' physical appearances.

"I remember years ago, our biggest weight for a 14-year-old was about 130, 140. Now, it's 170," he said. "Kids are getting bigger, but that has a lot to do with Twinkies and stuff. It's a sign of the times. Kids are eating and snacking more, because they're not supervised."

Michael Eisenfeld, the clinical practice director at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, treats numerous football players. He said teens that big can eventually suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes and possibly liver failure. Short-term issues can cause poor bone health.

"In general, we have so many overweight kids now," Eisenfeld said. "Being overweight is a huge problem. It's pretty unusual to be over 300 pounds and not be overweight."

In the realm of football, size is everything.

Alonso coach Mike Heldt was a standout lineman at Leto High. He signed with Notre Dame and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 10th round in 1991. As a senior at Leto, he said he weighed 275 and was the heaviest player on the team.

"That's average nowadays," he said.

Heldt said teams need bigger players to be successful.

"The weight room is more emphasized," he said. "Look at any Division I roster and you won't find too many linemen under 300 pounds. It's hard to compete when you're not that big on the line."

In some instances, coaches like Heldt see potential in overweight players.

"A bigger kid that comes in fresh off the couch, it's hard for them," Heldt said. "They quit. Every now and then, you get one that pans out and goes to Florida or something."

While some coaches salivate over these teenage giants, Eisenfeld said health is sometimes overlooked.

"If they are in football, it's a benefit for them," Eisenfeld said, "but only a small percentage goes to the NFL and to college. If you're a good high school player, you have a 1-out-of-100 chance to be a pro. If a high school coach says 'hey, let's beef him up', that won't help him five years down the road.

"Don't forget, when they're under 18, they're still growing. Once they're adults, it'll get harder to lose the weight because your metabolism runs down."

Proper nutrition and exercise are a must for linemen, and Heldt knows that firsthand.

"I had coaches that stressed conditioning," he said. "I also wrestled, and I had a real healthy diet. It's not to maintain weight. Muscle is heavy. It doesn't take long to put weight on if it's muscle."

Henderson, Hammond and Major all weighed more than 250 pounds as freshmen, but a strict diet and weightlifting program has helped transformed some of their fat into muscle. Hammond and Major now lead one of the best defensive lines in the area, while Henderson clears the way for one of the nation's top prospects in quarterback Dontae Aycock.

"I eat healthy and I jump rope on the weekend," said Hammond, who is listed at 6-foot-4, 310 pounds and bench presses 320. "I want to be chiseled and cut."

Henderson (6-4, 315) takes culinary arts classes at Chamberlain and routinely cooks healthy meals for his family. Chamberlain's roster lists him at 320, but Major, a nose tackle, says he is closer to 350. Chamberlain offensive coordinator Brian Turner said it takes three normal-sized teammates to push Major during practice.

Hillsborough County Athletic Director Lanness Robinson, a former assistant coach at Plant City, recalls watching 350-pound lineman Randall Derrick, who went on to play at Bucknell University.

"He never had any issues," Robinson said. "He didn't run like a gazelle, but it's all about conditioning the body."

Robinson said it's up to the high school coach to ensure larger players aren't pushed beyond their limits.

"Obviously, the game is getting bigger, faster and stronger," he said. "Health is a concern. Once they are cleared by a doctor, it's up to the coach to monitor their conditioning. A 300-pounder can't run like a receiver out there."