Maurkice Pouncey life and biography

Maurkice Pouncey is an American football center for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League.

PRO: Drafted by the Steelers in the first round (18th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft…became the first center selected by Pittsburgh since the 1937 NFL Draft (Mike Basrak)…can also play offensive guard…entered the NFL Draft following his junior season.

COLLEGE

Started 39-of-41 games that he appeared in for Florida…in 2009 as a junior, became the first player in school history to capture the Rimington Trophy, given annually to the nation’s best center…prior to the 2010 Sugar Bowl, spent five-plus hours at a local hospital because of kidney stones…received a CT scan that showed no kidney obstruction, got some IV fluid and played in the game, holding the Cincinnati defensive line to no tackles…enrolled at Florida early as a freshman in January 2007…social & behavioral sciences major at Florida. 2009: Played and started in all 14 games…All-America first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report, Football Writers Association and Walter Camp, adding second-team honors from the Associated Press…became the first Gator to receive the Rimington Trophy, given annually to the best center in college football…unanimous All-Southeastern Conference first-team choice…started all 14 games at center…led the nation’s interior linemen with a 91.57% grade for blocking consistency, producing 119 key blocks/knockdowns that included 20 touchdown-resulting blocks and seven more blocks downfield…did not allow a quarterback sack or pressure, nor was he penalized on any of the team’s 919 offensive snaps…provided huge holes for a running attack that ranked 10th in the nation, averaging 221.79 yards per game…his superb protection of the pocket allowed Florida to finish second in the conference in pass offense, averaging 236.07 yards per game operating out of the spread formation…named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week vs. Tennessee and Louisiana State (entire front wall awarded vs. LSU)…graded at least 90% for blocking consistency in 11 contests and registered at least one touchdown-resulting block in all but one game (Alabama). 2008: Starting center in all 14 games, including the 2008 SEC and FedEx BCS National Championship Game victories…All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report in his first season as the Gators’ center…College Football News Sophomore All-America pick…was named the SEC’s Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance vs. Arkansas and was one of five UF Offensive Players of the Week after the front wall’s dominance of the Tigers in the Louisiana State clash…led the Gators with 115 knockdowns/key blocks, as he collected 16 touchdown-resulting blocks…allowed just one quarterback sack on 329 pass plays, helping Florida lead the conference and rank 15th nationally with an average of 445.07 yards of total offense per game. 2007: Played in all 13 games and started in 11 at right guard (all except Ole Miss and Florida Atlantic)…also took snaps at center...named first-team Freshman All-America by College Football News and Rivals.com and was a member of the Freshman All-Southeastern Conference squads selected by the league’s coaches and Associated Press…graded no lower than 83% for blocking consistency in any of his 11 starting assignments…became the seventh true freshman in school history to start a season opener for the Gators.

PERSONAL
Attended Lakeland (Fla.) High School…rated among the nation’s top offensive guard recruits according to Scout.com (15th) and Rivals.com (15th)…one of 16 offensive linemen named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super Southern 100 squad…also a two-time All-State selection…as a senior, he and his twin brother, Mike, helped lead Lakeland to its 45th consecutive victory, third-consecutive Class 5A state championship and second-straight USA Today national championship in 2006…they were part of an offensive line that blocked for a 4,000-yard rushing team that season…graduated with a 3.0 grade point average…Maurkice and Michael (offensive lineman) were also teammates at Florida…son of Lisa and Rob Webster…Full name: LaShawn Maurkice Pouncey.

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