Steelers take big Florida OT with second round pick
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Then Florida quarterback Tim Tebow runs past the block of teammate Florida offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert as a Kentucky defensive end gives chase during a 2009 game. Gilbert is the Steelers' second round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
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The Steelers never came close to drafting the twin brother of Maurkice Pouncey in the first round, so they did the next best thing by drafting one of his best friends on the second round.
Marcus Gilbert, a strapping offensive tackle and former Pouncey twins teammate at the University of Florida, is a 6 feet 6, 330 pound tackle who started the past two years for the Gators on both sides and also has played both guard spots.
"He and Maurkice are best buds,'' Steelers line coach Sean Kugler said. "There's chemistry there.''
The Steelers have uncertainty at offensive tackle. Two are coming off surgeries, Max Starks (neck) and Willie Colon (Achilles). Flozell Adams is 36 and two other tackles besides Colon are free agents, Jonathan Scott and Trai Essex.
"There's uncertainty," Kugler acknowledged. "A couple are coming back from injuries . . . We just thought we got a good football player who adds to the room. We have a guy who plays with energy and passion.''
He started 27 games at tackle and three at guard for the Gators.
His father Jeff Gilbert was a Secret Service agent for presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama while the latter was campaigning.
First Published April 29, 2011 8:43 pm
