While the majority of focus for college football recruiting fans is on their team's ongoing quest to secure commitments in the 2018 recruiting class, those players who signed in 2017 are nearing a big date in their academic and athletic career, as college reporting days approach.
Texas 2017 wide receiver commitment Jordan Pouncey is ready to get started.
"Mentally, I'm ready. I don't think there's anything else that can prepare me more. I've been waiting for this moment since I first started playing football," Pouncey said. "There's nothing that can stop me, knock on wood. I'm so excited to get (to Texas), try to make a difference and play football. I just love to play ball."
Pouncey, out of Winter Park (FL), was in Austin last month to take in the Longhorns' Orange-White game. He was joined by a large number of the other members of the Texas' 2017 recruiting class, and Pouncey said it was an outstanding visit overall.
"It was great. It was nice to be back on campus. It was fun to be around all the signees. It's always a good time with them. They're a funny group of kids to be around," Pouncey said. "It was fun to watch how the offense operated, was nice to see. It was a lot like the offense I ran in high school so that was nice. It was a fun atmosphere to be in DKR, to hear Texas Fight, to hear the cannon go off when someone scored."
Pouncey said he liked the way the offense mixed things up and got its wide receivers involved. In fact, one receiver's versatility reminded him a little of how he sees himself.
"One person I can is see a little is Armanti Foreman. They motioned him into the backfield, had him run off tackle. I can definitely do that, since I played some running back," Pouncey said. "I have some versatility so I can do that too."
The 6-3, 190-pound Pouncey had played some running back in the third grade but hadn't played it since then. Last year, in the second game of his senior year, his coach told him to go work with the running backs. Good call.
"I was like, 'All right.' It worked out well because the first game I scored three TDs on back to back carries," Pouncey said. "It was crazy. I didn't even realize what I was doing."
Pouncey finished his senior season rushing for 768 yards (8.9 ypc) and 12 touchdowns while adding 31 receptions for 431 yards.
Most Texas 2017 signees will report to Austin on May 28, but Pouncey will be coming in on the 31st. He'll start classes one day later, on June 1. The college coursework will be an obvious priority, but Pouncey has also been working on his conditioning in order to make a smooth transition to his UT off-season workouts.
"I've been really focusing on getting in top condition, working on footwork, just field stuff," Pouncey said. "I have been working out, mostly squats and cleans, but a lot of my work is out on the field.
Pouncey said he knows he still has work to do on the physical side and his body still has room to grow, but he is coming to Austin with the mindset that he's going to play early and often.
"I got to talk to coach (Tom) Herman a little bit (on the spring game visit). It's always nice talking to him," Pouncey said. "I met with coach (Drew) Mehringer for a little bit too. He was like 'Be ready when you get here because we're going to be throwing a lot of stuff at you.'"
