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Even at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, Florida's Mike Pouncey never really stood out.
He always shared the spotlight with his twin brother, Maurkice. They played on the same teams, played the same positions, roomed together, hung out together, took classes together and even dated the same girl once.
They have been mostly inseparable - until now.
Mike Pouncey enters this season alone, far away from his brother who left school early for the NFL. Being on his own might not be the toughest challenge facing Pouncey this fall.
Pouncey is taking over his brother's position on the offensive line and Tim Tebow's leadership role. The Gators are counting on him to nail down both.
''I knew when I decided to come back to school that I was going to have to take on that role,'' Pouncey said. ''I just accepted it and I'm taking it on with a full head of steam.''
He's enjoying it, too.
''Who wouldn't? Leader of the team, everybody follows me and I'm going to lead this team to victory,'' he said.
Pouncey has played in 39 games over three seasons, seeing plenty of action as a freshman and then becoming the team's starting right guard the last two years. He moved to defensive line for a brief stint in 2007, and has eight tackles and an interception.
But his best position might be center, the spot his brother held the last two years. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Maurkice Pouncey with the 18th pick in April's NFL draft.
Mike Pouncey expects to go even higher in 2011.
''I didn't come back for no reason,'' he said. ''I better get drafted higher than him.''
He certainly has more on his plate than his brother did.
Between protection calls, trash talking and motivating teammates, Pouncey spends Florida practices yelling, screaming and jumping around. His antics remind teammates of that guy who helped the Gators win two national championships in the last four years.
''I think Mike Pouncey is our head-and-shoulders leader this year, the Tebow,'' guard Carl Johnson said. ''He has that same will. He can't begin to think of losing. You feed off that.''
Tebow set the tone for the Gators the last three years - on the field, on the sideline and in the locker room. Everyone else just followed his lead.
With Tebow gone and Florida's key offensive starters - quarterback John Brantley, running back Jeff Demps and receiver Deonte Thompson - having laid-back personalities, coaches turned to Pouncey to take on extra responsibility.
''I see a guy that's really wants to lead,'' offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said. ''He's really into being a true leader. I love watching it, really enjoying that side of him. He's always had great personality. But it's kind of his own leadership personality coming out now. It's not a tag team. It's his deal now.''
Addazio considers Pouncey the best offensive lineman in the country. He says Pouncey's size, strength, strong hands, quick feet and knowledge of the game separate himself from the rest of the pack.
''He's the best linemen in the toughest defensive conference in college football,'' Addazio said. ''He has a chance to be just sensational. He's physical, he's tough, he's skilled, he's smart, he's multi-positional. I don't know what's left.
''To me, when you judge an offensive linemen, judge him in this conference. Certain places you can push people around. Here you can't. Here you've got to be good. You've got to block them. I've been there, I've coached in those conferences. Come in this conference and move these fronts. It's a whole different ball of wax.''
Pouncey could say the same thing about playing without his brother.
They talk or text every day, sharing stories about football, family and life.
They leaned on each other just last month when allegations surfaced that Maurkice Pouncey accepted $100,000 from a representative of a sports agent. Both brothers deny the allegations.
They also expect to lean on each other this season, one that won't be quite like any other.
''It's just weird going out there without him,'' Mike Pouncey said.
