Senior Bowl Wrap Up: Ivan Pace Jr. Wins Defensive MVP Honors In 27-10 National Team Win

The linebacker made a strong NFL draft case this week, along with two more former Bearcats.

© Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

CINCINNATI — The UC Bearcats had a premier showing from a former linebacker in Saturday's Senior Bowl. Ivan Pace Jr. posted a game-high 10 tackles to earn defensive MVP honors. He aided the National Team in a 27-10 victory.

Former UC tight end Josh Whyle (1 catch, 13 yards) and wide receiver Tre Tucker (1 catch, 18 yards, 1 rush, 12 yards) joined him on the winning squad.

Pace has cemented himself as UC's best NFL prospect this cycle, and he's proud of the hard work needed to get here.

"I was mainly a blitzer in Cincinnati," Pace said this week. "I started out in coverage, but I needed to go blitz, it just worked out better for our team. So just coming up here and hearing that they said I couldn't cover, so I'll just have to be able to do that and show them that I can do that. So really the only thing that can stop them from drafting me is my height. So stop thinking about the height, you got a ball player."

UC's first-ever unanimous All-American is right.

If he was over six feet, Pace would be an unquestioned first-round projection. The stats and tape speak for themselves, with the measurables being his only drawback. Yet, year after year, we see prospects thrive who were overlooked because of one big hang-up.

Check out where Pace, Whyle, and Tucker finished the week on the consensus big board:

Pace: 143rd overall, 14th-ranked linebacker

Tucker: 231st overall, 30th-ranked wide receiver

Whyle: 166th overall, ninth-ranked tight end

Check out all of their top plays from Saturday.

And ivan is to small ? 🤣 https://t.co/3tqs8kQsSe

— IVAN PACE JR (@ivan_pacejr) February 5, 2023

#Cincinnati LB @ivan_pacejr introduces himself to a projected 1st round lineman by knocking him over and into the RB for a loss during the @seniorbowl. pic.twitter.com/nT6N0dBjVS

— Luke Winstel (@lukewinstel) February 5, 2023

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight it’s the size of the fight in the dog💯 pic.twitter.com/0pvjPt82MQ

— IVAN PACE JR (@ivan_pacejr) February 5, 2023

#Cincinnati LB @ivan_pacejr on his body of work at the @seniorbowl:

- “They said I couldn’t cover, so I had to do that. And I did that.”

- “If you stop thinking about the height, you got a ball player.” pic.twitter.com/aShcC1bDod

— Luke Winstel (@lukewinstel) February 5, 2023

Malik Cunningham 13-yd pass to Josh Whyle with 0:05 left in the half .. FGA coming up#National 14 #American 3 2ɴᴅ #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/WCt9osdw8Q

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) February 4, 2023

Jake Haener pass incomplete to Tre Tucker PBU Chamarri Conner#National 17 #American 3 3ʀᴅ #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/xmnJgO9GpO

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) February 4, 2023

Jake Haener 24-yd pass to Tre Tucker#National 17 #American 3 3ʀᴅ #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/HUNzauhi6Y

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) February 4, 2023

Tre Tucker 12-yd rush#National 6 #American 3 2ɴᴅ #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/24f8hV3FeZ

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) February 4, 2023

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