There’s a chance you have already seen Marquan Jones show off his athletic prowess on TV. Before he was competing among the world’s elite at the 2018 CrossFit Games, he was catching passes against the best of the ACC as a wide receiver from Clemson.

After graduating college, Jones needed a way to scratch his competitive itch. Once he found out about CrossFit from a friend, he took to the weight room iron like he did the gridiron before, and the rest is history. He made his first appearance at the Games last year and finished 37th. Just like anyone else who is used to competing on big stages, he’ll be certain to work and improve on that performance in 2019.

Jones plans to do just that and make it back to Madison, but first, his sights are set on Wodapalooza in Miami, Florida. Along with his own training, he is also coaching others to improve in fitness. As you’ll read in this interview, he is a man of few words but strong passion for fitness and competing.

Name: Marquan Jones

Age: 28

City: Roseland, New Jersey

Height: 6-0

Weight: 195 pounds

Instagram @quany_quan

Did you have any background in sports or fitness before you started doing CrossFit?

Yes, I played college football at Clemson University and played wide receiver from 2008 to 2010. 

What was it that led you to CrossFit training and eventually competing?

I was seeking something I could be competitive in. My friend told me about CrossFit and I fell in love with it immediately. 

What are you most proud of since you've started competing?

For me, it has to be making it to the 2018 CrossFit Games in Madison, Wisconsin.

From what I've seen, you coach as well. Do you coach fellow athletes or everyday folks?

Yes, I’m a head coach at CrossFit Roseland in Roseland, New Jersey. I coach the everyday folks and absolutely love it! 

Do you come up with your own plans when preparing for an event or do you work with a different coach?

I work with a coach, Dave Charbonneau, and his programming is called “Forged by Zeus.”

What goes into helping someone prepare for a competition? How far out do you work with an athlete?

The sport of CrossFit has now become year-round, so if you want to be good, start as soon as possible. When preparing, you just want to make sure you have a balanced, creative program so you’re ready for whatever comes your way. 

You're competing at Wodapalooza in Miami, Florida. What are you focusing on the most to be ready?

When competing at Wodapalooza it is madness. Everyone is good, the crowd is crazy, the workouts are hard, music is blasting, etc. My main focus is not getting caught up in the external factors and try to stay on top of my recovery. Some workouts are done late at night. 

You're working with Under Armour, which has been around for a while but who is relatively new to the fitness community. What are your thoughts on UA and how they've helped you?

Under Armour is a very supportive company for me. A new functional fitness shoe has been released with Under Armour and I’m just trying to help them push that as much as I possibly can. 

What are your plans after WZA?

I just got done with the Mid-Atlantic Qualifier and was fortunate enough to make it top 20 so I’ll be doing a Mid-Atlantic Qualifier in April and I’ll also try to do the Granite Games to qualify as well. Going to be a busy season.

Roger Lockridge is from Lewisburg, WV. His work has been featured on numerous platforms and magazines in the fitness industry over the last 10 years. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram @rocklockridge.