Maurkice Pouncey LaShawn Maurkice Pouncey ( born July 24 , 1989 ) is an American football center for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of Florida , was a member of a BCS National Championship team , and was recognized as an All - American . He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft , and is a three - time Pro Bowl selection . Early years . Pouncey was born in Lakeland , Florida . He attended Lakeland High School in Lakeland , Florida , where he was a standout lineman for the Lakeland Dreadnaughts high school football team . As a senior in 2006 , he helped lead Lakeland High to its third consecutive Florida Class 5A state championship and second straight " USA Today " national championship . College career . Pouncey accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville , Florida , where he played for coach Urban Meyer ' s Florida Gators football team from 2007 to 2009 . As a freshman in 2007 , Pouncey started 11 of 13 games for the Gators at right guard . As a sophomore in 2008 , he started all 14 of the Gators ' games at center , including the Gators ' victories in the SEC Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide , and the BCS National Championship Game against the Oklahoma Sooners . As a junior in 2009 , he was a first - team All - SEC selection and a consensus All - American , receiving first - team honors from the Football Writers Association of America , " The Sporting News " and the Walter Camp Football Foundation , and second - team honors from the Associated Press . He was awarded the Rimington Trophy after his junior season in 2009 , and thereafter , he decided to forgo his senior year of eligibility and enter the 2010 NFL Draft . Professional career . 2010 NFL Draft . Pouncey entered the 2010 NFL Draft as the consensus No . 1 center available , ahead of Matt Tennant , J . D . Walton , and Eric Olsen . The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Pouncey in the first round ( 18th pick overall ) . He was the highest selected center since Damien Woody in 1999 , and the highest selected Gators offensive lineman since Kenyatta Walker in 2001 . Pittsburgh Steelers . His rookie year , he started in all 16 games played at the center position , and was selected to the Pro Bowl . Additionally , in accordance with his exceptional play as a center during his rookie year , he received 2 votes ( out of 50 ) for the National Football League Rookie of the Year Award . In the AFC championship game during Maurkice Pouncey ' s rookie year , Pouncey injured his ankle during the win and was not able to play in the Super Bowl . The Steelers would go on to lose the Super Bowl to the Green Bay Packers . In Week 1 of the 2013 season , Pouncey tore his right ACL and MCL after Steelers guard David DeCastro accidentally dove into Pouncey ' s right leg while trying to assist Pouncey in blocking Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill . He was placed on injured reserve ending his season . Personal . Pouncey ' s identical twin brother Mike Pouncey was selected 15th overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2011 NFL Draft . He is one minute younger than Mike . Pouncey has a daughter , Jayda ( born October 10 , 2011 ) .