Enormous 335-pound defensive lineman doubles as a varsity cheerleader

Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com That's precisely what Armand Fernandez-Pierre is doing for Dallas (Tx.) Episcopal School of Dallas. And Fernandez-Pierre isn't just an undersized utility player who wanted to suit up; he's a 335-pound defensive lineman who was actively recruited to join ESD's football squad from the cheerleading team. According to MyFoxDFW, Fernandez-Pierre was recruited to the squad by ESD head football coach Clayton Sanders, who saw the teen as a unique opportunity to add a massive athletic lineman to his squad. Fernandez-Pierre wasn't a newcomer to the sport, playing throughout his youth until he injured his neck as an eighth grader and decided it was time to find a new sport. That sport turned out to be cheerleading, where ESD cheer coach Eric Daboa welcomed the giant with open arms. The lineman enjoyed his time cheering on the sidelines so much that he was initially reluctant to return to football, even as the school's varsity coach was actively wooing him. Eventually he gave in to Sanders, with one caveat: He had to be allowed to continue cheering at halftime of the school's football games. That's precisely what happened in ESD's 41-0 rout of Dallas (Tx.) John Paul II School in the season's first game. It'll be repeated on Friday against Dallas (Tx.) Brock School as well. "We fought tooth and nail to keep him just on our team and our sideline," Eric Daboa told MyFoxDFW. "But we realized what a good athlete he is and understand the opportunities that he would have with football."