At Combine, Maurkice Pouncey Grades High for Sacrifice

Maurkice Pouncey made 40 career starts over his three seasons at the University of Florida and was the winner of the 2009 Rimington Trophy, presented to the best center in the nation. He thought long and hard about returning to the Gators for his senior season, and admitted it was difficult emotionally to leave UF.

And twin brother Mike.

Both Maurkice and Mike received second-team All-America and first-team All-SEC recognition from the Associated Press last season. The duo has competed and been teammates on the same levels since their youth days in Lakeland, Fla., making this the first time they will be separated. Maurkice is headed to the NFL; Mike has remained behind at UF.

Actually, that was the plan. Talk about sacrifice.

Maurkice's decision to turn pro opened a door for Mike, an offensive guard who is expected to replace his twin at center next season for the Gators. The move is expected to improve Mike's professional potential, helping show the versatility that Maurkice -- he can play center, tackle or guard -- could parlay into a first-round selection in April's NFL Draft.

Maurkice is in Indianapolis for the six-day NFL Combine, anxious to showcase his skills for the more than 600 NFL personnel, including head coaches, general managers and scouts. Pouncey will be prodded and poked, tested and interviewed.

"I am a little nervous but actually more excited to get there and take in the experience," Pouncey told FanHouse earlier this week following a workout at Tom Shaw's Performance Camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

"It is all coming so fast. I've heard stories about the combine, but, you know, teams want to see how you perform in drills and see what kind of personality you have. It all pays off in the end."

Pouncey, at 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds, is considered one of the draft's top prospects at center, though his ability to play along the interior of the line should only increase his value.

The Pounceys helped power UF's offense, which ranked No. 1 in the SEC in 2009 with 457.9 yards per game, including 221.8 rushing yards per game, 10th-highest in the nation.

"I think what really was impressive about him was when he was making his decision to come out, he wanted his brother to be able to play center to give him that option, too, that he can play all three positions and possibly move up in the draft next year," Shaw explained.

"It was a big sacrifice because they've played everything together their whole life. That was one of their plans, he could come out and that will give Mike a chance to move up in the draft. It's the ultimate sacrifice -- he loves his brother and wants to spent time with him. They had a plan. Maurkice's very talented, but I think his No. 1 strength is he's so fierce."

Pouncey is one of 10 former Gators participating in the combine. That total is third-highest in the country -- LSU leads with 12 -- and the most it has had under head coach Urban Meyer. The SEC had a nation-best 64 players invited, while the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 are next with 41 players each. The Pac-10 had 40 players invited.

"I told myself that I was ready for this moment in my life and ready to open up a new chapter," Pouncey said.

"My family and Mike played a big role in my decision. Mike wanted to come out , too, but he understood with him coming back next year, he has the opportunity to go a lot higher [in the draft]."