Pouncey, Emmitt Smith Inducted Into Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame

Former Florida stars Maurkice Pouncey and Emmitt Smith were inducted into the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame on Friday, one day before the No. 17 Gators play No. 3 Georgia in Atlanta, FloridaGators.com reported.

The induction ceremony and luncheon, presented by Miller Electric Company, took place at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame. Kickoff Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Florida is 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the SEC. Georgia is 6-1 and 4-1, according to ESPN.

Pouncey played at Florida from 2007 to 2009, a span in which the Gators went 36-5, won two SEC championships and captured the 2008 BCS National Championship. He faced Georgia three times and helped Florida win in 2008 and 2009, protecting Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

A Freshman All-American in 2007, Pouncey became the first Florida player to win the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation's top center, in 2009. He also was a consensus first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC pick. Pittsburgh selected him 18th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. In an 11-year NFL career, he made nine Pro Bowls and was a two-time first-team All-Pro.

Smith played at Florida from 1987 to 1989 and left as the school's career rushing leader with 3,928 yards and 36 touchdowns. He ran for 224 yards in his first collegiate start in 1987, one of several standout games against Georgia. As a junior, he rushed for 1,599 yards and was a consensus first-team All-American and the SEC Most Valuable Player.

Dallas took Smith in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. During a 15-year NFL career he became the league's all-time leading rusher, won three Super Bowls, earned NFL MVP and Super Bowl XXVIII MVP honors and made eight Pro Bowls. He is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame was established in 1995 and has honored more than 100 people. Gators already inducted include Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Tim Tebow and Fred Taylor. Georgia inductees include Vince Dooley, Herschel Walker, David Pollack and Knowshon Moreno.

This year's game is the first in the series played in Atlanta, per ESPN. The rivalry moves to Tampa in 2027 and returns to Jacksonville in 2028, FloridaGators.com reported.

Sources: FloridaGators.com (Oct. 30 release); ESPN.

Cover photo: Florida and Georgia players meet at the line of scrimmage during the teams' game in Jacksonville on Nov. 2, 2024. Photo by Chris Spears, GatorBait Media.