Former Florida offensive lineman Mike Pouncey (Lakeland, Fla.) has been selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. The Gators have now had a first-round selection in each of the past five drafts and have had 43 first-round draft picks in school history.
“I just think it was a perfect fit,” Pouncey said in his first interview with local Miami media on Thursday night. “I think they were just trying to hide it from other teams that they were interested in me. I mean, I was kind of shocked that they didn’t bring me in or work me out. But I was hoping on draft day that they picked me and I’m glad they did.”
Florida is the only team to have an offensive lineman selected in the first round of each of the past two drafts. Pouncey was the second of eight offensive linemen chosen in the first round of the 2011 draft. He is the sixth UF offensive lineman selected in the first round all-time. Mike's twin brother, Maurkice, was taken with the 18th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I'm happy for Mike that he is getting the chance to realize a lifelong dream,” said Florida head coach Will Muschamp. “I didn't coach Mike, but I've had the opportunity to meet him and you can tell that he has a passion for the game. I wish him the best of luck."
Pouncey, who played in 54 games for UF and made 45 starts, was a Second-Team All-SEC selection in 2010 by the media. He is the 43rd Gator all-time to be selected in the first-round of the NFL Draft. He becomes the first player drafted by the Dolphins out of UF since the team selected linebacker Channing Crowder in the third round of the 2005 draft. The only other offensive lineman drafted by the Dolphins out of Florida was Larry Gagner in 1966, when the franchise was in the AFL.
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
15th overall, 2011: OG/C Mike Pouncey, Miami Dolphins
18th overall, 2010: C Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers
23rd overall, 1998: OT Mo Collins, Oakland Raiders
23rd overall, 1989: OT David Williams, Houston Oilers
2011 Gator Draftees
OL Mike Pouncey, Miami Dolphins – 1st Round, 15th Overall
Florida Draft Notes
· The Gators have had 43 players selected in the first-round all time.
· Florida is tied with USC for the most first-round draft picks since 2007 with 8.
· UF is the only school to have an offensive lineman selected in the first round in both 2010 and 2011.
· This is the fifth-straight year that UF has had a first-round selection, the longest active streak of any school.
· Florida faced five of the first 12 players selected in the NFL Draft during the 2010 season.
· The SEC had the number one overall pick for the third time in the last five years and had 10 top-five picks in the last five drafts.
· The SEC had 10 draft picks in the first round, the most of any conference.
First-Round Draft Picks: 2007-11
| Florida | 8 |
| USC | 8 |
| Alabama | 7 |
| LSU | 7 |
Longest Active Streaks Being Represented in the First Round
| Florida | 5 years |
| Alabama | 3 years |
| California | 3 years |
| Missouri | 3 years |
