All Bearcats

Deshawn Pace, Ivan Pace Jr. Make Nagurski Award Preseason Watchlist

The linebackers should play a huge role in UC's 2022 success.

Russ Heltman

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

CINCINNATI — Double trouble in the Bearcats' linebacking corps. 

On top of making the Butkus Award Preseason Watchlist, Deshawn Pace and Ivan Pace Jr. also cracked the Nagurski Award Preseason Watchlist.

The award goes to the nation's top defensive player and Cincinnati was one of 20 schools with multiple players on the list.

Deshawn had a statement season in 2021, totaling 95 tackles (fourth on the team), and a team-high four interceptions. He is the program's top linebacker heading into 2022 and could make a case for NFL teams to draft him with continued development.

His brother Ivan had an even better campaign last fall, posting 125 tackles at Miami (OH), which ranked second in the MAC, along with one interception and four sacks. Pace was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year following the season and gives the defense much-needed pass rush versatility.

Make sure you bookmark All Bearcats for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more.

You May Also Like:

Report: UC Adds On-Campus NIL General Manager Position

Deshawn Pace, Ivan Pace Jr. Named to Butkus Award Preseason Watchlist

Josh Whyle, Leonard Taylor Named to Mackey Award Watchlist

Look: Marquise Copeland Flashes Super Bowl Ring

Look: Desmond Ridder Marries Longtime Girlfriend Claire Cornett

Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner Tops All Rookie Corners in Madden Rating

UC WR Nick Mardner Named to Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watchlist

Jerome Ford, Bryan Cook Assigned Madden 23 Ratings

Look: Desmond Ridder Signs NFL Rookie Contract

UC Offers 2023 JuCo Center Saliou Seye

UC Releases Plan for Additional Fifth Third Arena Renovations

ESPN's Pete Thamel Ponders if Cincinnati Will Switch Conferences Again

Alec Pierce, Travis Kelce Madden 23 Ratings Revealed

Watch: Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner Correctly Predicts Madden Rating

Four-Star WR Malik Elzy Commits to Cincinnati

Andy Katz Names David Dejulius a Top-25 Super Senior

UC Offers 2025 Sharpshooting Guard RJ Greer

UC Football Falls Outside Top-20 in Latest ESPN Recruiting Rankings

The Athletic Ranks Ben Bryant Among Top-10 Senior QBs

12 Things that Need to Happen before Cincinnati Joins the Big 12

UC Football's Toughest Games in 2022

UC Football Five Bold Predictions: Defensive Line

Corey Kiner, UC Football Roster Rock Uniforms in Team Photoshoot

Three Bearcats Named to Phil Steele's 2022 Preseason All-American Team

Seven Things That Need to Happen for Bearcats to Have Successful Season

John Cunningham: UC Increasing Media Revenue 'More Than Two Times' With Big 12 Move

UC Football Sells out of 2022 Season Tickets

The 2022 NFL Schedule: Bearcats Edition

Bearcats Peppered Across NFL Rookie of the Year Betting Markets

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on All Bearcats all the time!

Follow All Bearcats on Twitter: @AllBearcats

Like All Bearcats on FaceBook: All Bearcats

Follow All Bearcats on Instagram: @BearcatsTalk

Published
Russ Heltman
RUSS HELTMAN

Russ Heltman is a contributor for AllBearcats and AllBengals. He is the morning host and producer for 89.3 WMKV in Cincinnati, OH. Russ can be found on Twitter: @RussHeltman11 or you can reach him by email at Heltmandm@yahoo.com.

Home/Football