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Editor’s note: SDS is ranking the 25 best SEC players — at any position — of the last decade. Florida OL Mike Pouncey is the sixth member of a 25-part daily series.
- No. 25: South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery
- No. 24: Texas A&M LT Luke Joeckel
- No. 23: Vanderbilt WR Jordan Matthews
- No. 22: Alabama OL Barrett Jones
- No. 21: Georgia QB Aaron Murray
- No. 20: Florida OL Mike Pouncey
- No. 19: Georgia LB Jarvis Jones
- No. 18: Georgia WR A.J. Green
- No. 17: Alabama LB Rolando McClain
- No. 16: Florida LB Brandon Spikes
- No. 15: South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney
- No. 14: Alabama QB AJ McCarron
- No. 13: Alabama RB Mark Ingram
- No. 12: LSU DB Patrick Peterson
- No. 11: Alabama WR Amari Cooper
- No. 10: Alabama WR Julio Jones
- No. 9: Ole Miss LB Patrick Willis
- No. 8: LSU DL Glenn Dorsey
- No. 7: Tennessee DB Eric Berry
- No. 6: LSU DB Tyrann Mathieu
- No. 5: Florida ATH Percy Harvin
- No. 4: Arkansas RB Darren McFadden
- No. 3: Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel
- No. 2: Auburn QB Cam Newton
- No. 1: Florida QB Tim Tebow
21.) FLORIDA OL MIKE POUNCEY (2007-10)
Long before the bullying incident with the Miami Dolphins for which he is best known, he was born James Michael Pouncey, a standout offensive lineman who helped Lakeland High School to consecutive USA Today national championships.
A four-star recruit, Urban Meyer secured Mike — and his twin brother Maurkice –over Florida State, Clemson, Miami and Michigan.
Maurkice Pouncey can make a great case for our Top 25 rankings. He’s 4-for-4 as an All-Pro center for the Pittsburgh Steelers after spending two years starting at the position for the Gators, winning the Rimington Trophy as an All-American in 2009.
But Mike Pouncey stayed in Gainesville for an extra year, earning him not one, but two appearances as a first-team All-American. His career got off to an interesting start in 2007, as Meyer moved him to defensive line to counter a spate of injuries. Pouncey made a tackle for loss and an interception in somewhat limited time, starting four games as a true freshman despite rarely even playing defense in high school.
The Gators moved him back to right guard in 2008, and he remained there for all 28 games in ’08 and ’09. Florida won the national championship in ’08 and then both Pouncey twins earned All-American honors the next year, playing shoulder to shoulder.
Then Maurkice left for the NFL, Mike slid into his center spot and started all 13 games once again.
In some ways this slot goes to both Pounceys, who gave Meyer and the Gators a physical, nasty presence on the offensive line that helped pave the way for Tim Tebow and company in a dominant offense.
Since getting drafted, Mike Pouncey has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons for the Dolphins.
Career numbers: Played in 54 games and started 45 at Florida.
Individual superlatives: 2008 — Second-team All-SEC; 2009 — First-team All-American, First-team All-SEC; 2010 — First-team All-American, second-team All-SEC.
NFL Draft: No. 15 overall to the Miami Dolphins in 2011.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
