UC Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. Declares For 2023 NFL Draft

The streaking comet lit up offenses in his lone year as a Bearcat.

CINCINNATI — The Bearcats’ best player in 2022 is headed to the NFL Draft.

Ivan Pace Jr. is forgoing his final year of eligibility and going pro.

No goals, just levels pic.twitter.com/ZL1afNu7V2

— IVAN PACE JR (@ivan_pacejr) December 31, 2022

"To my teammates at both schools," Pace wrote. "I appreciate each and every one of you. We created memories and bonds that will last a lifetime and each moment we shared together was truly a blessing. With that being said, I will NOT be using my final year of eligibility and will declare for the 2023 NFL Draft."

Pace was the school's first unanimous first-team All-American in school history.

He ended the regular season in the Top 15 nationally in tackles for loss (19.5, third), tackles (120, 10th), and sacks (9.5, 14th).

He was also a finalist for the Bednarik Award, and Butkus Award, while earning the AAC Defensive Player of the Year award.

The consensus big board has him slotted as a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and 203rd-ranked prospect overall. He exits a linebacker room that also has Wil Huber turning pro.

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