Ivan Pace Jr. Named PFF's Fifth-Best Returning College Linebacker

CINCINNATI — Luke Fickell has brought in a few impactful transfers over the past few weeks, including one of the better linebackers returning to college football next season.

PFF named Ivan Pace Jr. the fifth-best linebacker returning to college football.

"Pace won PFF’s 2021 MAC Defensive Player of the Year playing for Miami of Ohio. This year, he stepped into a starting job for the first time and came out with an 88.3 PFF grade. He was a weapon regardless of role but stood out as a blitzer, where he earned a 91.2 pass-rush grade and totaled 19 pressures from 46 rushes. Pace paired that with an 88.6 coverage grade and 78.7 run-defense grade. Next year, he’ll return to his hometown to play for the Bearcats alongside his brother Deshawn Pace, who nearly made this list after posting a 75.3 PFF grade last season."

The missile in the middle had 60 solo tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception last season. He will immediately have an impact role as a playmaker alongside his brother as UC vies for its third-straight AAC title.

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