Pittsburgh Steelers Make Maurkice Pouncey 18th Overall Draft Pick
Friday, April 23, 2010 | Football
Former Florida center Maurkice Poucey (Lakeland, Fla.) has been selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He is the first center from UF to be chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft. Coupled with Joe Haden's first-round selection by the Cleveland Browns, it marks the 10th time the Gators have had multiple first-round selections in the same draft.
Pouncey, who played in 41 games for UF before declaring for the NFL Draft following his junior season, was the 2009 Rimington Trophy winner as the nation's top center, in addition to being named a first-team All-American by Walter Camp, the Football Writers' Association of America and Sporting News.
He is the 41st Gator all-time to be selected in the first-round of the NFL Draft and the sixth under head coach Urban Meyer.
“I'm proud for Maurkice and his family,” Meyer said. “He has worked so hard to put himself in this position. He loves the game of football and he loves to compete. His passion for the game shows on and off the field and I know a number of NFL teams told us they loved his attitude and his skill set.”
Pouncey is the fifth UF offensive lineman selected in the first round all-time and the first since offensive tackle Kenyatta Walker was selected 14th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2001 draft.
With Pouncey's selection, UF has now had a player at every offensive and defensive position selected in the first two rounds of an NFL Draft. Previously, no Florida center had been chosen before the fifth round.
Career Bio: Maurkice Pouncey GatorZone.com Bio
NFL.com Video: First Draft: Maurkice Pouncey
All-time UF Offensive Linemen Selected in the First Round
6th overall, 1985: OT Lomas Brown, Detroit Lions
14th overall, 2001: OT Kenyatta Walker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18th overall, 2010: C Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers
23rd overall, 1998: OT Mo Collins, Oakland Raiders
23rd overall, 1989: OT David Williams, Houston Oilers
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