It’s been an unbelievable senior season for Winter Park athlete Ayden Pouncey, and he’s been approaching at simply the appropriate time as Winter Park tries to place itself to make a run within the Class 7A state playoffs.
Along with his latest manufacturing, Pouncey has been spectacular sufficient to maneuver into the No. 1 place within the Sentinel’s 2026 Central Florida Super60 recruiting rankings.
“I positively really feel like I deserve it, however I’m simply blessed to be on this state of affairs,” Pouncey stated.
Winter Park coaches know that successful means getting the ball in Pouncey’s fingers, and the Notre Dame commit has been everywhere in the soccer area. The protection/receiver leads the workforce in receptions, return yardage, interceptions, and touchdowns and he’s fourth in tackles.
His most spectacular feat this season has been on protection, the place he has picked off six passes, and returned 5 of them for touchdowns. He additionally has 30 catches for 634 yards and 7 touchdowns and he leads the workforce in whole yardage with 1,018. He has scored 15 touchdowns, 2 on kickoff and punt returns, and his whole kick return yardage is 288 yards.
Pouncey, who will doubtless play security at Notre Dame, likes being concerned within the offense, as properly.
“They’ve requested me to step up on offense so I’ve been doing that,” Pouncey stated. “It’s main for me. I’ve been a Winter Park child my complete life and my brother, he had an analogous senior season, so I’m kinda simply chasing him and attempting to do higher than him.”
Pouncey is one in a line of profitable Pouncey brothers at Winter Park. Oldest brother Jordan Pouncey, who performed at Texas and Florida, at the moment performs professionally in Germany. Jordan was ranked No. 5 within the Sentinel 2017 Super60. Brother Ethan additionally performed at UF and Georgia Southern. Ethan was injured his senior season at Winter Park and didn’t play. Youngest brother Nova Pouncey stated he doesn’t like soccer, so the household soccer tree stops with Ayden.
Pouncey stated he at all times retains one factor in thoughts.
“Actually, my objective each time I contact the ball is to attain, so each time I catch a decide, my objective is to get to the tip zone,” Pouncey stated. “It’s been actually thrilling and a variety of occasions it helps my workforce get in place to win, and that’s all I’m attempting to do.
“I’m simply attempting to do what I can … and assist get this playoff run going.”
The Wildcats are at the moment 5-4, however have been paying higher of late. They’re at the moment No. 5 in Class 7A, Area 1 rankings by the FHSAA. If the rankings stay the identical subsequent week, Winter Park can have a first-round playoff sport on the highway at Lake Mary (6-3).
The transfer to No. 1 by Pouncey, displaces former high participant Dereon Coleman, who has achieved nothing to slide within the rankings, it’s simply that Pouncey has poured it on. Coleman has led Jones to a 7-2 file and the Tigers are ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, Area 2. Coleman, who’s dedicated to Miami, has thrown for 1,525 yards and 16 touchdowns on 112-of-147 passing (76.2%).
Rounding out the High 5 are Evans working again Li’Darious Pryor, who’s uncommitted, Tavares linebacker Izayia Williams, an FSU commit, and Jones receiver Larry Miles, who’s headed to Nebraska.
Chris Hays could be discovered on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.
