Gators 2023 NFL Draft Profile: WR Jordan Pouncey
The 2023 NFL Draft is approaching, marking the peak of the professional football offseason.
As NFL free agency cools down after the initial surge to fill spots of need, teams are solidifying their big boards for the eventful selection period set to take place from April 27-29.
Multiple University of Florida talents are in the midst of preparing for the draft process. Eight of the 11 entrants recently participated in the NFL Combine. They finalized their athletic metrics at the school's Pro Day on March 30.
In anticipation of the selection ceremony, All Gators will provide player draft profiles for the 11 Florida representatives. The series will include the player's history, strengths, weaknesses, scouting report, best fit and most up-to-date Gators-centric mock draft selection.
Following profiles for quarterback Anthony Richardson, offensive guard O'Cyrus Torrence and defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr., edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr., safety Trey Dean III, linebacker Ventrell Miller, safety Rashad Torrence II and linebacker Amari Burney, wide receiver Jordan Pouncey is our next prospect of focus.
Player History
Ranked as a three-star prospect out of Winter Park (Fla.) High, Pouncey was a late addition to Texas' 2017 recruiting class. He joined the Longhorns over offers from Tennessee and Miami with the upside to become a rotational wideout prospect at the next level.
However, the wideout failed to break through at UT, reeling in just two receptions for 19 yards in three seasons. As a result, following the 2019 campaign, Pouncey entered his name into the transfer portal, looking for a fresh start.
He returned to his home state of Florida in 2020 to equip the Gators' wide receiver room with depth before carving out a role for himself. The move didn't pay the dividends he hoped it would, as the wideout suffered the same fate in Gainesville as in Austin.
Buried at his position once again, Pouncey emerged as a special teamer during his Florida career, seeing most of his on-field action in the third phase. Occasional snaps came due to injury and during bowl games to reconcile for players who opted out of post-season play.
His most significant contribution came in the form of the leadership role he assumed for the team, which elevated in 2022 as Billy Napier looked to overhaul the locker room's culture in his first year at the helm.
Scouting Report
Getting a skillset gauge on the former Gators reserve wideout is problematic, given his lack of playing time during his collegiate career. As a result, AG elected to skip the bulleted strengths and concerns for Pouncey.
He saw minimal snaps at the University of Florida despite serving in a notable leadership role for the team across his three seasons.
Accounting for just three receptions for 31 yards at UF — and two catches for 19 yards at Texas — the road to the pros seems bleak for Pouncey without the adequate experience, production or tape to warrant a franchise to take a chance on him.
His recent pro-day testing results didn't help, as he lacked the notable physical or athletic features needed to earn his way onto an undrafted free-agent prospect board. He notably ranked in the 32nd percentile of height (6-foot-1), 69th percentile in weight (210 pounds), 10th percentile of the 40-yard dash (4.65 seconds) and fifth percentile in the vertical jump (30.5 inches), according to Mockdraftable.
However, he did receive looks from an abundance of NFL scouts during projected top-five selection Anthony Richardson'a throwing session. Serving as a pass catcher for the highly touted quarterback, Pouncey could benefit from the added exposure despite limited opportunities during his collegiate career.
He'll likely hold onto that fact as he vies for a camp invite after the NFL Draft.
Best Fit(s)
It's difficult to pinpoint a proper fit given the aforementioned small sample size as a career backup in college. However, a camp invite to a championship contender with a keen offensive mind (Kansas City, for example) is the best-case scenario to elicit rapid growth from Pouncey.
His presence inside the locker room and on special teams could also bode well for a rising franchise.
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