Description
Maurkice Pouncey helped anchor one of the most successful eras in Florida football history, playing a key role in the Gators' success from 2007-09. During his three seasons in Gainesville, Florida posted a 36-5 record, won two SEC championships and captured the 2008 BCS National Championship. Pouncey faced Georgia three times, helping the Gators earn consecutive victories in 2008 and 2009 while protecting Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow.
A Freshman All-American in 2007, Pouncey developed into one of the nation's top centers by his junior season. In 2009, he became the first Florida player to win the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the nation's top center. He also earned consensus first-team All-America and first-team All-SEC honors. Pouncey started 39 games at Florida before being selected 18th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft. During his 11-year NFL career, he earned nine Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro honors and three second-team All-Pro honors. He also was named to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team and later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame and the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor.