Wikipedia

Ivan Pace Jr.

Ivan Pace Jr. (born December 16, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami RedHawks before transferring to the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2022, where he was named a unanimous All-American and the AAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Ivan Pace Jr.
No. 0 – Minnesota Vikings
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (2000-12-16) December 16, 2000 (age 23)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:231 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school:Colerain
(Cincinnati, Ohio)
College:Miami (OH) (2019–2021)
Cincinnati (2022)
Undrafted:2023
Career history
Roster status:Injured Reserve
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 10, 2024
Total tackles:157
Sacks:5.5
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:2
Pass deflections:2
Interceptions:1
Defensive touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early years

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Pace Jr. attended Colerain High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He played linebacker and fullback in high school. He committed to Miami University to play college football.[1]

College career

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Miami (OH)

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Pace Jr. played in 13 games his true freshman year at linebacker and edge at Miami in 2019, recording 19 tackles and seven sacks. Six of those sacks came against Akron, which tied the NCAA record for most sacks in a game.[2] In 2020, he started all three games in the COVID-19 pandemic shortened season and had 26 tackles. In 2021, he had 125 tackles, four sacks and an interception.

Cincinnati

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Pace Jr. transferred to the University of Cincinnati after the 2021 season.[3][4] He joined his brother, Deshawn, who also plays linebacker for the team.[5][6] He was a starter his first year at Cincinnati in 2022.[7][8]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10+1⁄2 in
(1.79 m) 		231 lb
(105 kg) 		30+1⁄4 in
(0.77 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.62 s 1.70 s 2.66 s 4.40 s 7.18 s 35.0 in
(0.89 m)		 9 ft 8 in
(2.95 m)		 22 reps
Sources:[9][10]

Pace signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023.[11] On August 29, 2023, the Vikings announced that he had made the initial 53-man roster.[12] In Week 14, Pace recorded 13 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, and an interception in a 3–0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, earning National Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week.[13] As a rookie, Pace appeared in all 17 games and made 11 starts. He had 2.5 sacks, 102 total tackles (63 solo), one interception, two passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.[14] Pace was named to the PFWA NFL All Rookie Team.[15]

In Week 7 of the 2024 season, against the Detroit Lions, Pace recorded a fumble recovery for a touchdown set up by teammate Josh Metellus.[16]

Personal life

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Pace's younger brother, Deshawn, plays linebacker for the UCF Knights.[17]

References

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  1. ^ Springer, Scott (April 30, 2019). "Colerain football brothers on pace to becoming college rivals at UC, Miami University". The Enquirer. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  2. ^ Dyer, Mike (November 21, 2019). "Miami University freshman LB Ivan Pace Jr. tied an NCAA single-game record with six sacks". WCPO 9 Cincinnati. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  3. ^ Dyer, Mike (January 4, 2022). "Former Miami standout headed to UC". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  4. ^ Williams, Justin (August 17, 2022). "Ivan Pace Jr. has been more than meets the eye at Cincinnati". The Athletic. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  5. ^ Dyer, Mike (November 22, 2018). "Brothers lead Colerain to state semifinals". WCPO 9 Cincinnati. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Springer, Scott (January 4, 2022). "Ivan Pace Jr. transferring to Cincinnati, rejoining brother Deshawn on Bearcats football team". The Enquirer. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  7. ^ Williams, Justin (September 29, 2022). "How Ivan Pace Jr. emerged as a dominant linebacker at Cincinnati". The Athletic. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  8. ^ Heltman, Russ (September 13, 2022). "Ivan Pace Jr. Turning Heads and Taking Names Early at UC". SI.com. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  9. ^ "Ivan Pace Jr. Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  10. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Ivan Pace Jr. College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  11. ^ "Vikings Agree to Terms with 15 Undrafted Free Agents". Vikings.com. April 29, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  12. ^ Peters, Craig (August 29, 2023). "Vikings Set Initial 53-Man Roster for 2023". Vikings.com. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  13. ^ Gordon, Grant (December 13, 2023). "New York QBs Zach Wilson, Tommy DeVito highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  14. ^ "Ivan Pace 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  15. ^ "2023 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  16. ^ Wald, Jeff (October 20, 2024). "Vikings drop 31-29 thriller to Lions for first loss of season". FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  17. ^ "Deshawn Pace - Football". University of Cincinnati Athletics. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
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