There aren’t many offensive linemen in college football with more experience than him. Marques Cox.
The offensive tackle played in 34 of 36 games over five seasons at Northern Illinois University before transferring to Kentucky to play in every game in 2023. Despite playing nearly 50 college football games, Cox is looking for new ways to improve his game ahead of his seventh season.
Unlike many previous offseasons, Cox was healthy and had more time to work on his body. He focused on two areas: strengthening his lower body and improving his flexibility. Cox addressed both of those areas by adding three Pilates sessions a week to his summer training plan.
A 6-foot-5, 320-pound SEC athlete should be able to do Pilates with ease, right?
“I don’t want to talk about it,” he joked.
“It’s definitely challenging. It helps you find those little muscles that you don’t normally use. It helps you find those and control your breathing and build your lung capacity.”
Pilates courses aren’t something the University of Kentucky football strength and conditioning coach offers, but Cox looked into alternative ways to improve flexibility before finding Pilates that worked for him.
“I’m really inflexible, so I just needed a place where I could go and do stuff, stretch, have someone watch over me and show me things and how to do them,” Cox said.
He tried yoga, but found it “too quiet for me.” Cox persuaded some of his teammates to join him. Cortland Ford and Chip Treynhamto join him. He has been trying to recruit other players, and none have completely ignored the big offensive tackle.
Cox is still getting used to the training. Some days it’s frustrating, but that’s the problem. He may be able to mess with SEC defensive linemen, but he’s not playing to his full potential yet. This new challenge could be the key to Cox’s best football season ever.
“It’s challenging. It’s not easy. It’s not for the weak,” Cox said. “I’ve found that different parts of my body are weaker than I thought. You think, you know, you’re squatting 400 pounds, you’re lifting weights, you’re moving people, and you think, wow, is this little exercise going to show you how strong you are? It’s definitely challenging and new, but it’s definitely fun.”
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