TAMPA, Fla. - Florida center Mike Pouncey was thrilled Tuesday to hear that his twin brother, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie center Maurkice Pouncey, was selected to the Pro Bowl.
"I was excited and called everybody on my phone to let them know," the Gators' Pouncey said.
The brothers speak frequently, and Maurkice was coy when he called Mike Tuesday.
"He called me around 2 o'clock yesterday," Mike Pouncey said. "I was like, 'What you doing?' He just said he's setting a trip up to Hawaii. I'm like, 'Oh, for real? Who all going?'"
That's when Maurkice told him the news about the Pro Bowl.
Maurkice Pouncey also played at Florida and was the No. 18 pick in this year's NFL draft. Mike played guard last season for the Gators while his brother was an All-American center, and this year he moved over to play center.
Mike has set his goals to try and live up to his brother's accomplishments.
"He's done set some high standards," Mike Pouncey said. "First I've got to accomplish getting drafted in the first round, and we'll go from there."
At 6-foot-5, 320 pounds, Pouncey is widely considered a late first or early second-round pick. He won't be able to attend the Pro Bowl to watch his brother because he will be playing in the Senior Bowl.
"He works all day, and so when we get time to talk, we don't talk about football," Mike Pouncey said.
The Gators are experiencing a lot of distractions with coaches coming and going, but Mike Pouncey said, "I don't let stuff like that get to me.
"I just go out there and play football," he added. "It's been a blessing to play here, and it's been a blessing to be coached by Urban Meyer."
