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PFF Picks Ivan Pace Jr. As The Top Linebacker To Watch At 2023 NFL Combine

The All-American is working to move up draft boards.

Russ Heltman

© Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
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CINCINNATI — The 2023 NFL Combine is underway, and PFF's Mike Renner has Ivan Pace Jr. as his top linebacker to watch during this week's event.

"Pace is one unique linebacker prospect," Renner wrote. "He’s tiny by NFL standards at 5-foot-10, 231 pounds, but he can run with the best of them. Pace has that joystick-esque body control that makes him capable of running in any direction without seemingly losing any speed. That was painfully obvious at the Senior Bowl, where he clocked the fastest GPS speed of any linebacker in attendance over the past four years (20.58 MPH). While that should pretty obviously translate to a nice 40-yard dash, I'm most excited to see his change of direction drills (three-cone/short shuttle)."

That speed should be fully showcased in a few drills as Pace tries to chip away at a fifth-round draft projection.

The Bearcats' first unanimous All-American in program history is currently ranked 149th overall on the consensus big board and 10th among linebackers.

Catch Pace's workout this Thursday at 3 p.m. ET on NFL Network. It's available via fuboTV—start your free trial here.

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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.

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