Football Wide receiver recruit Jordan Pouncey: Herman ‘was banging on tables and started yelling’ Posted January 28th, 2017


Story highlights Tom Herman enjoys competition with official visitors.

Tom Herman enjoys competition with official visitors. Jordan Pouncey grew up a Texas fan because of Vince Young.

Jordan Pouncey grew up a Texas fan because of Vince Young. Texas, Miami and Tennessee are Jordan Pouncey's top three.

It was Jan. 20, and Texas head coach Tom Herman was banging on tables.

“Coach Herman is so high energy it isn’t even funny” remembered wide receiver target Jordan Pouncey. “On my official visit they brought us all to Dave and Buster’s and Herman was playing someone in the free throw game. Coach Herman won and all of a sudden he was banging on tables and started yelling. It was right in the middle of Dave and Buster’s with kids around. It was great.”

Herman is driven by competition. It is evident on the football field and it is evident while hosting official visitors from across the nation. Pouncey, a three-star wide receiver from Winter Park (Fla.) took notice.


He’s always taken notice at what goes on in Austin.

“I played quarterback as a kid and I wanted to be just like Vince Young,” Pouncey said. “I always kept up with Texas and watched their football games. It never stopped once Young left. I’ve really liked the program since I was a kid and I’m legitimately looking at Texas.”

Pouncey is looking at a few schools. The one-time Notre Dame commit is the top target left on Texas’ board and the Longhorns are no longer merely a longshot for Pouncey’s signature. Texas is firmly in the race alongside Miami and Tennessee.

“Miami is close to home and I grew up wanting to play for the Hurricanes. My mom is from south Florida, so it was always a program I wanted to be around. Same thing for Texas outside of my mom going there. I’ve always liked Texas and heard great things about Austin,” Pouncey said. “Tennessee has recruited me since I was a freshman and I think I can fit in that system.”

Most systems would welcome Pouncey’s talent. At 6-foot-2, Pouncey can play outside receiver or in the slot. It was a sales pitch offensive coordinator Tim Beck and wide receivers coach Drew Mehringer used during Thursday’s in-home visit to Pouncey.

“I don’t care about what position I play,” Pouncey said. “The only position I prefer is get-me-the-ball.”

It was the wide receiver who ended up asking most of the questions.

“It was a great visit. They were here for over two hours and I wasn’t ready for them to leave. I must have spent an hour asking questions about the state of Texas and the school. I know about the football, but I wanted to know more about the other stuff,” Pouncey said. “It helped me as someone from Florida.”

Herman’s staff first made contact during winter break. A few days before the new year, as Pouncey recalls, he received word from Mehringer that Texas was interested. Pouncey’s previous association with Texas was through current San Jose State offensive coordinator Andrew Sowder, who was a quality control coach for Texas under Strong.

An offer soon followed.

“I knew this was a great opportunity and I needed to look into the possibility at Texas,” Pouncey said. “I’ve liked everything about the school. The coaching staff is the funniest group of coaches I’ve ever spent time around. It’s contagious and players want to be around that type of energy.”

Pouncey started his official visit to Tennessee on Friday and will announce his decision on national signing day.