Gator Country

Center Mike Pouncey is one of 37 BCS centers who has been nominated for the 2010 Rimington Trophy. / Gator Country file photo by Tim Casey

If Mike Pouncey has his way, the Rimington Trophy, emblematic of the top center in college football, won't be leaving the Pouncey household any time soon.

In 2009, Mike’s brother, Maurkice, became the first Gator center to win the award after totaling 40 career starts over his three seasons, while also garnering recognition as a first-team All-American by Walter Camp, the FWAA, Sporting News and CBSSports.com. Maurkice was the 18th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The award is named in honor of Dave Rimington, a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy’s only double winner as the nation’s finest college interior lineman. 

Mike Pouncey, who moved from right guard to center when Maurkice elected to turn pro and was drafted by the Steelers, has appeared in 39 games with 32 starts and started all 14 games during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Last season, Pouncey was named a 2009 Associated Press second-team All-American, as well as an AP first-team All-SEC selection.

The SEC, Big 12 and Pac-10 are represented by five players each on the watch list.  While more than a dozen All-America football teams are selected annually, the Rimington Trophy committee uses these four prestigious teams to determine a winner: the American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Foundation, the Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America. The center with the most first-team votes will be determined the winner. If there is a tie with first-team votes, then the center with most second-team votes will win. If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by the Rimington Trophy committee. The winner will be honored at the banquet in Lincoln, Neb., on Jan. 15, 2011.

2010 Rimington Trophy Watch List
Player College Ht./Wt./Class

Chris Anzevino Kent State 6-2/305/Junior
Tim Barnes Missouri 6-4/310/Senior
Ryan Bartholemew Syracuse 6-2/310/RS Senior
Colin Baxter Arizona 6-4/295/Senior
Sean Bedford Georgia Tech 6-1/274/Senior
Chase Beeler Stanford 6-3/276/Senior
Mario Benavides Louisville 6-4/312/Sophomore
Joe Bernardi Fresno State 6-2/285/Senior
Ben Bojicic Bowling Green 6-4/294/Sophomore
Mike Brewster Ohio State 6-5/293/Junior

J.C. Brignone Mississippi State 6-3/300/Senior
Ben Burkett Northwestern 6-4/285/Junior
Mike Caputo Nebraska 6-1/275/Junior
Dalton Freeman Clemson 6-5/280/Sophomore
Jordan Holmes Oregon 6-5/294/Senior
Trask Iosefa San Diego State 6-0/300/Senior
Ben Jones Georgia 6-3/300/Junior
Jake Kirkpatrick Texas Christian 6-3/305/Senior
Peter Konz Wisconsin 6-5/313/Sophomore
Alex Linnenkohl Oregon State 6-2/297/Senior

Kai Maiava UCLA 6-1/300/Junior
Ryan McMahon Florida State 6-3/282/Junior
Colin Miller Central Michigan 6-3/292/Senior
David Molk Michigan 6-2/270/Senior
Bryan Morgan Duke 6-3/255/Senior
Russell Nenon Wake Forest 6-4/295/RS Junior
Kristofer O’Dowd Southern California 6-5/300/Senior
Brad Paul Memphis 6-5/290/Senior
Moe Petrus Connecticut 6-2/292/RS Junior
Mike Pouncey Florida 6-5/312/Senior

Ryan Pugh Auburn 6-4/297/Senior
Lon Roberts Louisiana Tech 6-3/285/RS Junior
Brad Serini Florida International 6-3/300/Senior
Keenan Stevens Colorado 6-2/290/Senior
William Vlachos Alabama 6-1/296/Junior
Beau Warren Virginia Tech 6-2/292/RS Senior
Wade Weibert Kansas State 6-4/303/Senior

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