Ivan Pace Jr. Ready To Realize His NFL Dreams After 2023 UC Pro Day

The linebacker performed well in his workout.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Mar 23, 2023 4:16 PM EDT

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Cincinnati Bearcats

Cincinnati Bengals

CINCINNATI — Former UC linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. posted one of the greatest defensive seasons this program has ever seen in 2022.

Now, he's trying to parlay that into NFL success with his latest showcase at UC's 2023 Pro Day. Pace posted an unofficial 40-yard dash time of 4.5 seconds among his other workouts.

Check out his thoughts on the whole process.

On the process over the last couple of weeks

I was down training in Fort Myers, Florida, and it is good to be back in Cincinnati to get ready for this pro day. I participated in the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine—which prepared me to come back here and be ready for it.

On what he wanted to show the scouts

Not seeing us [Cincinnati] as a smaller program because we are full of talent. I want to show them that I can play with anybody and that the size does not matter to me.

What teams have you been in contact with over the last month or so

I won't name any teams, but I am just taking the process real slow. I am just waiting for draft day. Anybody can talk, but I am just waiting for somebody to pick me.

On the rest of the draft process

I think the next steps are to continue to prepare. I am coming off combine training, which is different than football training with all of the drills. Now it is just continuing to get back into football shape. It is different because of the kind of workouts that you have to do. They are truly different, and it is a big difference. You come out here to work through drills for the Combine and Pro Day, but it is not football training, and I want to be ready for when that time comes.

On how playing at Cincinnati elevated his game

I felt like I already had that game in me. I have also had that mentality that I am good enough to play anywhere. That is why the main reason I transferred to come to Cincinnati, and my brother was here too. I could have went somewhere else, to a bigger Power Five program, and played there, but I came here to show those things and ball out with him.

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