2009 Football Roster
Roster
Maurkice Pouncey
- Position:
- OL
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 318
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Lakeland
- High School:
- Lakeland
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CAREER: Appeared in 41 games with 39 career starts⦠Was an early enrollee his freshman season and began taking classes at UF in Jan. 2007.
HONORS: Won the 2009 Rimington Trophy, awarded to the nationβs best center, the first time in school history a Gator has one the awardβ¦ A 2009 Walter Camp, CBSSports.com, Sporting News and FWAA first-team All-Americanβ¦ Also on the 2009 Outland Trophy Watch Listβ¦ Tabbed a 2009 first-team All-SEC pick by the AP, the leagueβs head coaches and Phil Steeleβ¦ Garnered AP All-SEC Honorable Mention accolades in 2008β¦ A 2008 CollegeFootballNews.com All-Sophomore selectionβ¦ 2007 Freshman All-American First-Team (CollegeFootballNews.com, Rivals.com)β¦ Freshman All-American Second-Team (Sporting News)β¦ 2007 All-SEC Freshman Team (Coaches, Sporting News).
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2009: Played and started in all 14 games for the Gators in 2009β¦ Graded out an average of 91.5 percent in 2009 and recorded nearly 30 knockdowns his junior seasonβ¦ Named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after grading out a Champion at 93 percent in the 23-13 victory over Tennesseeβ¦ Checked in at a season-high 99 percent in the Gatorsβ win over LSUβ¦ Contributed to Floridaβs 51-24 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl victory in New Orleans, La., as the Gators finished the 2009 season 13-1, his 30th consecutive start donning the Orange and Blueβ¦ Started his 28th-straight game in the 37-10 win over Florida State on Senior Day, his final game in The Swampβ¦ Graded out at a team and season-high 99 percent in UFβs 13-3 win over LSU in Death Valleyβ¦ Checked in at 90 percent for Championsβ Club honors after the victory over Kentuckyβ¦ Led the Gatorsβ offensive efforts in the win over Tennessee in the SEC opener for UF, grading out at a team-high 93 percent after taking 61 snapsβ¦ The starter for Floridaβs 56-6 victory over Troy the second game of the season, recorded his second 98 percent grade of the season and collected a knockdown in the processβ¦ Made the start at center in the season opener against Charleston Southern, graded out at 98 percent, recorded two knockdowns and allowed Florida to rush 369 yards, the most in school history on opening day.
2008: Floridaβs starting center in all 14 games during the season, including the Gatorsβ 2008 SEC and FedEx BCS National Championship Game victoriesβ¦ Graded out at 90 percent or higher in six contests, including South Carolina (90), Tennessee (93), Arkansas (94), Vanderbilt (95), LSU (97) and Kentucky (98)β¦ Also graded out a Champion at 88 percent against The Citadelβ¦ Garnered SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week Oct. 6 for his performance against Arkansasβ¦ Was one of five UF Offensive Players of the Week after the offensive lineβs success against LSU.
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...Became the seventh true freshman to start at UF on opening day⦠Graded out a Champion for the first time in his career at LSU (86 percent)⦠Also, was a Champion with an 85 percent the next week at Kentucky and an 83 percent later in the season against Vanderbilt.
PREP: Rated among the nationβs top offensive guard recruits according to Scout.com (15th) and Rivals.com (15th)β¦ As a senior, he helped lead Lakeland to its 45th consecutive victory, third-consecutive Class 5A state championship and second-straight USA Today national championship in 2006β¦ Part of an offensive line that blocked for a 4,000-yard rushing team as a seniorβ¦ One of 16 offensive linemen in the Atlanta Journal-Constitutionβs Super Southern 100β¦ Earned all-state honors as a juniorβ¦ Chose Florida over Florida State, Clemson, Miami (Fla.) and Michiganβ¦ High school football coach was Bill Castle.
PERSONAL: Born July 24, 1989⦠Full name is LaShawn Maurkice Pouncey⦠His twin brother, Mike, is also a member of the Gators⦠Parents are Rob and Lisa Webster.
MAJOR: Social & Behavioral Sciences.
PROFILE
Β·Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Was a member of the 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee
Β·Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Starred in a public service announcement for the Gear Up Buckle Up program with his brother, Mike
Β·Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Became the first true freshman to start at offensive guard for UF in a home opener
Β·Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Mike and Maurkice Pouncey had to share one scooter for a time until they could get another one.
Β·Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β The twin brother of Mike Pouncey, the two never considered going to separate colleges
Β·Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Member of the 2006 Lakeland High 5A State Championship team, along with Florida teammates Ahmad Black, Mike Pouncey, Chris Rainey and Steven Wilks
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WHAT THEYβRE SAYING ABOUT MAURKICE POUNCEY
βIt was kind of difficult at first, getting the snap down. The snap is the most important part of the position, getting the ball back to the quarterback. Once I got it down, its just like playing the game.β (8/6/08)
Maurkice Pouncey on moving to center
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βIβve been doing this a long time and heβs only the second guy that Iβve had start as a true freshman. Itβs hard to do and he did it.β (8/6/08)
Urban Meyer, UF head coach
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βIt made it a lot easier. Having someone to go back to your form with and be able to talk to every night about everything. You get down on yourself when you get here because these players are really good, and sometimes you donβt play well. The first spring was not as good as I wanted it to be and not as good as high school.β (8/6/08)
Maurkice Pouncey
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βHeβs a real sharp guy and he can be a real leader. We want our center to be able to call the right protectiond and make the right calls. He has to be on the front edge of the offense. Maurkice has a real feel for the game. He has experience and he has a lot of time ahead of him to slide into that position.β (8/6/08)
Steve Addazio, UF Offensive Line coach on moving Maurkice to center
βIβm a lot better [than when I got here]. In high school I was always the biggest one so that made it a lot easier. My technique has gone up so far that Iβm pretty all right now. When I first got here I didnβt have much technique, but now I have it down pat.β (12/14/07)
Maurkice Pouncey
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βI canβt single any one of them out because theyβve all helped me. Any time I need to ask them something, theyβll take me into the film room and show me things. You canβt pick out one guy and say he helped me the most. Theyβve all been about equal.β (12/14/07)
Maurkice Pouncey on learning from the upperclassmen
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βIf he keeps going, will be one of the best to ever play at the University of Florida. Thatβs how much confidence [I have in him]. He loves to play football. He loves to train. He likes to be coached. Heβs
not asking me why are we not going 18 periods instead of 20 periods. He really likes to work. Thatβs a special player.β 10/18/07
Urban Meyer, UF head coach
βFor a true freshman, Maurkice is hungry. Heβs real hungry. Heβs always asking me questions about this play, about that play, about this one, about that one. Thatβs always a good sign from a freshman.β
Carlton Medder, UF offensive lineman
βHe went out there and did it in practice and stuff. Iβm his biggest fan. Every play I watch him and I want to see what heβll do. I come to the sideline and if heβs messed up Iβll tell him come on, youβve got to get it.β (9/4/07)
Mike Pouncey
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