Former Florida football center Maurkice Pouncey and former Florida softball two-way standout Lauren Haeger were named among eight inductees into the 2025 UF Athletic Hall of Fame class. Florida announced this year’s list of inductees on May 7.
A former All-American right guard and center and former Lakeland High standout, Pouncey played for the Florida Gators from 2007-09, helping lead UF to its last SEC and national title in 2008.
Pouncey went on to a 10-year NFL career with Pittsburgh Steelers (2010-20) after being selected in the first round (16th overall) by the Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played in nine Pro Bowls, earning first-team All-Pro status twice (2011, 2014).
Haeger emerged as the most dominant two-way player in Florida softball history, helping lead the Gators to back-to-back national titles in 2014 and 2015 as a pitcher and slugger. She remains UF’s career leader home runs (71) and RBIs (260) and is the only player in Division I softball history to reach the 70-win, 70 home run mark. In 2015, Haeger earned SEC female athlete of the year honors.
Other inductees into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame include Theresa Andrews (swimming, 1981-83), Charlotte Browning (track and field/cross country, 2008-10), Kitty Cullen (lacrosse, 2010-13), Marquis Dendy (track and field, 2012-15), Kytra Hunter (gymnastics, 2012-15) and Phil Pharr (distinguished letterwinner, football, 1978-80).
Inductees will be honored at the UF athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, scheduled for Oct. 17, prior to Florida’s home football game the following day against Mississippi State.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: UF Athletic Hall of Fame inductees include former Florida football, Florida softball standouts
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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