Nov 5, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) celebrates after a sack against Navy Midshipmen quarterback Xavier Arline (not pictured) in the fourth quarter at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar/Cincinnati Enquirer via USA TODAY NETWORK — © Cincinnati Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK

Ivan Pace Jr.: With A Little More Size 'I Could Be A Top-Five Pick'

The linebacker knows where he stands in the NFL Draft hierarchy and is using it as fuel.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Mar 1, 2023 11:46 AM EST

In this story:

CINCINNATI — UC product Ivan Pace Jr. is showcasing his talents at the NFL Combine this week, and he met with the media ahead of his workout on Thursday.

The first unanimous All-American in UC football history is convinced he'd be a top-five pick if he had a little more size.

"I feel like I really do separate myself," Pace told reporters. "If I had the height. I felt like I could be a top-five pick, but they find that height as a failure. So I'll be up there one day."

The linebacker is listed at 5-foot-10 and 231 pounds on NFL.com.

Three more inches and 15 more pounds would put him in the prototypical size range that NFL teams covet. Still, Pace thinks his play speaks for itself.

"I just got relentless effort," Pace said about his playing style. "You pull up any film. You pull up somebody else's highlights. I'm gonna be in the shot, like every play you'll see number zero."

The blitz maven currently holds a fifth-round draft projection. A range where his hometown Cincinnati Bengals could target him. Although, Pace didn't grow up a fan of the team like his family.

"Everybody's a Bengals fan beside me," Pace said. "I'm a Cowboys fan. So I switched up a little bit. I like the Bengals but that's not my favorite team. I had meetings with them (the Bengals). They talked about me getting up there and seeing the campus and stuff."

Bearcats and Bengals fans alike could definitely get on board with that draft marriage.

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