1 » Though Maurkice Pouncey earned major recognition as a center with the Florida Gators, his short-term future looks to be as a starting right guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team that drafted him No. 18 overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. If you talk to Steelers’ starting left tackle Max Starks (also a Florida alum), Pouncey is already turning some heads. “Being that I’m such an established alum from the University of Florida, I’m going to be biased. So I’ll say he’s going to be great,” Starks told the Beaver County Times. “Seriously, Maurkice is a guy who’s come in with the right attitude. He’s a good kid. He’s picking up things and learning the system, although I’m sure his head is still spinning because he’s a rookie. But the most important thing is that he’s here getting a foundation. You can only imagine that once we get into camp and he puts the pads on and he’s had more time in this system, how well he’ll do.” Pittsburgh wants him to be the starting center – eventually – but would like him to get on the field as quickly as possible; right guard is where they need immediate help.

2 » Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com recently posted a New England Patriots mailbag covering a number of topics concerning the team including the future of former Gators linebackers Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes. Reiss projects that Cunningham will ultimately start at outside linebacker in 2010 opposite Tully Banta-Cain but thinks Spikes will have a rough go of it (at least in the beginning) beating out the two guys ahead of him for the opportunity to start alongside Jerod Mayo.

Photo Credit: David Silverman/New England Patriots

Tags: Brandon Spikes, Draft, Jermaine Cunningham, Jerod Mayo, Maurkice Pouncey, Max Starks, New England Patriots, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tully Banta-Cain, University of Florida

1 » Former Florida Gators center Maurkice Pouncey is loving his new home with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Drafted by the six-time Super Bowl champions with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Pouncey is “just trying to establish” himself with the veterans. “This is a great experience and a great team,” Pouncey told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “All of the guys take you in, none of that hazing kind of thing. It’s just, ‘Win championships.’ […] I’m sitting in here looking at all of the other guys that played in the Super Bowl and just trying to soak in what they’ve got and follow their lead.” He joins Florida alum and left tackle Max Starks on Pittsburgh’s offensive line. “He didn’t come in with any type of ego,” Starks said, praising Pouncey’s introduction. “That’s what you want to see, especially in an offensive lineman. You want a young guy to come in that wants to learn and wants to get better.”

2 » According to a live chat session with Philadelphia Inquirer beat writer Jeff McLane, former Gators tight end Cornelius Ingram participated in individual drills during the Philadelphia Eagles’ minicamp last weekend. Missing his rookie year after suffering a second injury to his anterior cruciate ligament (the first kept him out the 2008-09 Florida football season), Ingram lost out on a starting opportunity to Brent Celek but has a chance to be a back-up and earn time on the field should he be able to stay healthy. Reports are that his rehab has been going well, and Ingram is expected to make a full recovery. Wide receiver Riley Cooper, drafted in the fifth round by Philadelphia, joins Ingram on the Eagles this season.

Photo Credit: Tracy Wilcox/The Gainesville Sun

Tags: Brent Celek, Cornelius Ingram, Draft, Maurkice Pouncey, Max Starks, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Riley Cooper, Super Bowl

When I sat down and thought about the best way to preview the 2010 NFL Draft from a Florida Gators perspective for OGGOA‘s readers, I realized trite things like mock drafts, destination predictions and the like are really a bunch of hogwash. At the end of the day, few things are certain when it comes to the NFL Draft – trades can occur at any moment and each team views its most pressing needs and what each player brings to the table differently than analysts and commentators do.

So rather than try to predict the unknown variables and tell you what could happen, we will stick with what likely will happen. And you can check it out…after the break!
Continue Reading » OGGOA’s comprehensive 2010 NFL Draft preview

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Brandon James, Brandon Siler, Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap, David Nelson, Draft, Jermaine Cunningham, Joe Haden, Major Wright, Markihe Anderson, Maurkice Pouncey, Max Starks, NFL, Radio City Music Hall, Riley Cooper, Ryan Stamper, Tim Tebow, Wondy Pierre-Louis

The 2000s were quite a decade for University of Florida athletics. Florida Gators football and basketball were especially exceptional, combining for four National Championships (five appearances) and five Southeastern Conference Championships (six appearances) while earning five BCS bowl game and eight NCAA Tournament berths, respectively, over the last ten years. To end this decade of champions, OGGOA has compiled our own Gators All-Decade Team for each sport.

Continue Reading » OGGOA Presents: Florida Gators All-Decade Team

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Ahmad Black, Al Horford, Alex Brown, All-Decade, Andre Caldwell, Anthony Grant, Anthony Roberson, BCS, Ben Troupe, Billy Donovan, Billy Latsko, Brandon James, Brandon Siler, Brandon Spikes, Channing Crowder, Charlie Strong, Chas Henry, Chris Leak, Ciatrick Fason, Corey Brewer, Cornelius Ingram, Dan Mullen, David Lee, Derek Harvey, Drew Miller, Earnest Graham, Eric Rutledge, Eric Wilbur, Ian Scott, Jabar Gaffney, James Smith, Jarvis Moss, Jeff Chandler, Joakim Noah, Joe Haden, Keiwan Ratliff, Lito Sheppard, Major Wright, Marcus Thomas, Matt Bonner, Maurkice Pouncey, Max Starks, Mike Degory, Mike Pearson, Mike Pouncey, National Championship, NCAA Tournament, Percy Harvin, Phil Trautwein, Ray McDonald, Reggie Nelson, Rex Grossman, SEC Championship, Shannon Snell, Taylor Jacobs, Tim Tebow, Todd Johnson, University of Florida, Urban Meyer

1 » Tampa Tribune takes a look at the additional cost the Florida Gators incurred by sending two additional airplanes to Lexington for the Kentucky Wildcats game last week in order to separate ill players (including quarterback Tim Tebow and safety Major Wright) from the rest of the team. Only extra expense? Fuel.

2 » While Florida Gators fans worry about the impact Tebow’s injury may have on next Saturday’s game against the LSU Tigers, Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald believes the game is not necessarily a must-win, and a loss in Tiger Stadium would not spell the end for Florida’s chances at another national championship trophy.

3 » As a student at the University of Florida, I once played basketball against Super Bowl-champion Pittsburgh Steelers starting left tackle Max Starks. At 6’8” and almost 350 pounds, Starks (not surprisingly) thoroughly dominated me in the post like he now does to defensive linemen in the NFL. Monday night, Starks will take on all comers as he co-hosts WWE Monday Night Raw along with the rest of the Steelers’ offensive line and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (the main host).

4 » ESPN’s NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. has released his latest “Big Board,” in which he names his top 25 NFL prospects, including two Florida Gators. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap has held steady at No. 5 while middle linebacker Brandon Spikes has moved up three spots to No. 21.

Continue Reading » SIX BITS: LSU not a must-win? Starks gets RAW. Kiper’s Big Board. Volleyball to be tested.

Tags: Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap, Max Starks, Mike Peterson, Tim Tebow, volleyball