Ivan Pace Jr. NFL Draft Scouting Report

LB, Cincinnati Bearcats

Ivan Pace Jr. is a hyper-productive linebacker who successfully made the jump from Miami-OH to Cincinnati look easy. He was one of the most productive linebackers in college this past season and was named to multiple All-American rosters. 

Pace is a heat-seeking missile who has a nose for the football. Pace aligns in the middle of the Bearcats’ defense and appears to be the one making the calls. He has outstanding instincts for the position and seems to know where the ball is going every single play. He is able to use those instincts as well as his explosive burst and short-area quickness to shoot behind the line of scrimmage and make tackles for loss. He has above-average range sideline to sideline and flashes as a tackler. 

While Pace offers exciting playmaking ability as a run defender due to his ability to shoot gaps and deliver hard hits, he lacks the length and mass to consistently fight off blocks in the box. Too often he is covered up by guards working through the second level and cannot fight off the block. His energetic and active playstyle results in a bunch of over-run plays where he leaves room for cut-back lanes for ball carriers. 

In coverage, he is a good athlete with quickness to stay connected in man and instincts to know where to get to in zone. With that said, his lack of size and length limits his ability to defend taller tight ends who can simply win at the catch point. Perhaps his best skills are his blitzing ability, as he knows how to time the snap and get home with speed and a variety of rush moves, which includes an impressive spin move. 

Overall, Pace has everything you want in an inside backer. He has instincts, toughness, and good burst/speed, he just lacks the requisite size and length to excel in the NFL. 

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Short-area quickness and burst
• Play temperament 
• Blitzing
• Toughness

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Size
• Length
• Man coverage

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 5′ 10 1/2”

Weight: 231 lbs

Arm Length: 30 1/4”

Hand Size: 9 1/2”

Athletic Testing (TBD):

40-yard Dash: 0.00s

Vertical Jump: 00”

Broad Jump: 000”

Short-Shuttle: 0.00s

Three-Cone: 0.00s

Bench Reps: 00 reps 

Ideal Role: Backup linebacker in a 4-3 scheme

Scheme Fit: 4-3

Prospect Comparison: Denzel Perryman

TDN Consensus Grade: 72.00/100 (Fourth-Round Value)

• Weissman Grade: 72.00/100

Written By: Brentley Weissman

Exposures: Indiana (2022), Tulane (2022), Arkansas (2022)

Ivan Pace Jr. NFL Draft Scouting Report. Add him to your big board here.