OU offensive lineman Jacob Sexton used yoga in the offseason to improve his flexibility.
NORMAN — Jacob Sexton was looking for a way to elevate his game this offseason.
He didn’t expect to find it in a yoga studio.
“That’s kind of one of those deals where you hear it and you’re kind of squinting.” Sexton said. “‘I don’t know if that’s for me.’ Luckily, there’s some spots around here where you can get your own private box area.”
But the OU senior offensive lineman, who has battled injuries throughout his career, feels like he’s elevated his game this offseason through regular yoga sessions at HOTWORX in Norman.
“They’re huge,” Sexton said of the importance of speed and flexibility at his position. “Short, kind of 5-yard bursts, are really important for an offensive lineman, and flexibility is even more important.”
Wide receiver Deion Burks was the first to start talking to his teammates about giving yoga a try.
Sexton started the first eight games of last season, splitting time between left guard and left tackle, before suffering an injury.
When he returned to Norman in January from winter break, he began to work yoga into his offseason routine.
Now, Sexton said, around 15-20 players have it as part of their routine.
“It was kind of one of those deals that was weird in the beginning,” Sexton said.
Sexton often works out with fellow senior offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu.
The rooms at Hotworx are made for three. Three “normal” sized people.
“Me and Feb were in there, I don’t think we could’ve put a 50-pound person in there,” Sexton said.
The more private nature of the workouts, though, allowed Sexton to be comfortable with the idea.
It didn’t take long for Sexton to notice a difference.
“After that first week, I already felt a lot better just in my movement and everything,” Sexton said. “Then after less than a month, I felt like while I was practicing and playing I felt like I was able to maintain a lower center of gravity and more balanced. So there’s definitely a lot of aspects, flexibility and balance-wise, that have helped a bunch.”
Sexton also spent plenty of time during traditional work this summer, including teaming up with defensive end R Mason Thomas for extra work.
The pair particularly worked on Sexton’s pass-protection skills, which the Deer Creek product said was a major focus of his offseason work.
“He’s the best defensive end in college football,” Sexton said. “So there’s really no one else that you’ve got to go to except for him, so I found him, we got extra reps in throughout the summer and I felt like he helped me improve a lot.
“Every opportunity we have to get some reps in, we got them in.”
The Sooners opened preseason camp Thursday with Sexton and the offensive line having plenty to prove.
The group struggled as a whole and Sexton has yet to be healthy for an entire season.
“Going into this year I‘ve felt the best I’ve ever felt,” Sexton, who is listed at 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, said. “My knees feel amazing. That flexibility and stuff that I’ve incorporated through the offseason has helped a bunch. It’s going to be a great year.”
The Sooners return not only Sexton but Nwaiwu, center Troy Everett, Jake Taylor, Heath Ozaeta and Logan Howland on the front — all players who started at various times last season.
They brought in a trio of transfers to the group, plus added talented freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje.
Sexton said there was a different feeling among the offensive line this offseason.
“Last year was tough,” Sexton said. “There was lots of injuries and stuff that we couldn’t really do anything about, but that is the game of football. But Coach B (Bill Bedenbaugh) has been great. The guys that were here understand that that’s unacceptable and need to be better and we took that into account this offseason. … Everyone is just prepared for this season.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How OU football OL Jacob Sexton improved flexibility with yoga
Category: General Sports
