Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) dives toward Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Connor Bazelak (9) for a sack during the first quarter of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Indiana Hoosiers at Nippert Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. Syndication The Enquirer — © Stephanie Scarbrough/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ivan Pace Jr. PFF's Highest Graded Player at Season Midpoint

The game-changing linebacker is a cut above every FBS defender in the country.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Oct 11, 2022 9:24 AM EDT

CINCINNATI — We are halfway through the 2022 UC football season and Ivan Pace Jr. is PFF's top-graded defensive player in the entire country.

The senior sports a 92.6 overall grade through six games this season. By the raw numbers, it's not hard to make the argument that Pace is the best defender in the country.

The speeding bullet has 62 tackles (13th nationally), 30 solo tackles (t-35th), five sacks (t-13th), and 12.5 tackles for loss (t-first).

UC head coach Luke Fickell discussed Pace's impact on opposing defenses following a less dominant game against South Florida (seven tackles, one solo).

“I think Ivan (Pace Jr.) was a little bit dinged up from last week," Fickell said. "Another guy that could use probably a good week here to try to get himself a little bit healthier and things like that. When you're a guy that you know this his size, I mean, he's not like he's small or anything, but you play as hard as he does, there's going to be some nicks and bruises. They did a good job of not letting him get loose. We got to do a little bit better job and probably move him around more.”

Pace has been a revelation six games into his Bearcats' career and the teammate directly in front of him up the middle is helping that effort. Defensive lineman Dontay Corleone is fourth nationally with a 91.5 grade.

The redshirt freshman has 22 tackles (10 solo), two sacks, and a forced fumble this season.

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