Hernandez alters diet, battles for playing time The more weight he loses, the further Jeff Hernandez retreats from the middle of the line. Now a walk-on fullback at Maryland, the 5-foot-11, 235-pound junior bears little resemblance to the 285-pounder who played both ways at Kennedy High in Silver Spring.
Make no mistake, Hernandez was a force in his former body. He was a sight to behold when he pulled out of a three-point stance, leading a sweep in the Cavaliers’ spread offense. It’s a skill that has transferred naturally to his new position.
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“I could always do things that surprised people,” Hernandez said. “I could always block in space. I feel like I could have played a skill position in high school.”
Four years and 50 pounds later, Hernandez has discovered what he calls his “natural weight,” as he battles redshirt freshman Rahsaan Moore and true freshman Tyler Cierski for playing time, hoping to earn a scholarship.
“Jeff is a really tough kid, a physical guy,” Maryland coach Randy Edsall said.
Hernandez began his college career on scholarship as a nose guard at Bowie State. But by then he was already losing weight. His sophomore year was spent at defensive end, then at linebacker.
According to Hernandez, his weight loss began by accident at the end of his senior year of high school when he had a job and often arrived home too tired to eat. Realizing that late-night snacks caused his weight gain, Hernandez altered his eating habits.
“Just a lifestyle change,” Hernandez said. “Now I have to force myself to eat.”
At Maryland, he joins two former Kennedy teammates, junior safety Clarence Claiborne and junior running back Kwabena Ofori. Claiborne came with Hernandez from Bowie State. Both sat out last season per NCAA transfer rules. Ofori, already a student at Maryland, tried out for the first time last fall.
As walk-ons, nobody expects much from the Kennedy trio. But they know the drill. In high school, they helped transform a team with a 27-game losing streak into a two-time playoff squad.
“We’re just trying to replicate some of the magic over here, trying to accomplish the unexpected,” Ofori said.
