Ivan Pace Jr. Scouting Report and NFL Draft Profile
2023 NFL Draft Measurements
Ivan Pace Jr. 40-Yard Dash Time – 4.82
6’0” / 235 lbs.
Ivan Pace Jr. Draft Profile
Ivan Pace Jr. is a former 2-star recruit out of Colerain High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to 247sports, Pace was the 102nd-best player in the state of Ohio and the 127th-best inside linebacker in the nation. Given that he was only a 2-star recruit, he went very unnoticed coming out of high school. Pace only received two Division I offers: Miami (OH) and Cincinnati. To start out his career, Pace decided to take his talent to Oxford, Ohio and play for the RedHawks.
According to Sports Reference, as a true freshman at Miami, Pace played in 6 games where he was nothing short of impressive. He finished the season with 19 total tackles and 7.5 sacks. Six of these sacks came from their game against Akron where he tied an NCAA record for most sacks recorded in one game. As a sophomore, he started every game of the season. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 impacting the length of the season, Miami only played 3 games. But, in those three games, he had 26 total tackles and 2 passes defended. In his final season at Miami, he played in 13 games where he tallied up 125 total tackles, 4 sacks, 1 interception, 3 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble.
After this season ended, he entered his name in the transfer portal in hopes of playing with his younger brother Deshawn Pace at Cincinnati. Finally, so far this season, he has racked up 119 total tackles, 8 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 4 passes defended.
Strengths
Athleticism
Ivan Pace Jr. is one of the most athletic inside linebackers in the nation. When he is lined up in the box, he displays very good explosiveness and acceleration off the snap. He is also very explosive when he is lined up on the line of scrimmage, often being the one to engage in contact first. Although he displays very good athleticism when rushing the passer, he also shows incredible quickness and lateral agility when in coverage. Pace is incredible at quickly covering sideline to sideline due to his incredible quickness and explosiveness.
Pass Rush
Pace Jr. is good at rushing the quarterback due to his ability to slip through blocks in the middle of the line. Then, he uses his incredible athleticism and high motor to chase down the quarterback and force them outside the pocket. This often leads to the quarterback forcing a throw or taking a sack from behind. Given his lack of size, he struggles to shed blocks using his power. Instead, he uses his speed to get around blockers before they get set. He also does an excellent job of timing the snap perfectly so he can get a good jump on the ball.
Zone Coverage
Although Pace Jr. is a very talented pass rusher, he is even better in zone coverage. When lined up in the box, he does a good job of using his lateral agility and quickness to get set in his zone quickly. This allows him to then rely on his awareness and instincts in coverage to make a play on the ball if it comes his way. He also does a good job of reading the quarterback’s eyes, allowing him to cover his zone or attack the QB if he tries to scramble.
Toughness
Ivan Pace Jr. is a very tough player when he steps on the field. He plays with a very high motor that allows him to be effective all around the field. When blitzing the QB, he displays an ability to be very aggressive at the point of attack. This leads to him slipping through blocks and making a play on the QB. When pursuing the ball carrier, his high motor allows him to chase them down and make a play forcing a loss or minimal gain.
Weaknesses
Size
As I have mentioned several times throughout this analysis, Ivan Pace Jr. lacks the size needed to be effective in the NFL. He stands at only 6’0” tall and weighs 235 lbs. This frame often hinders his ability to shed blocks when forced to rely on his strength. When rushing the passer, his smaller frame prevents him from getting his hands in the right spot to gain leverage. This often leads to him being neutralized at the line of scrimmage.
Play Strength
In order for Pace Jr. to win matchups in the NFL, he should add some weight to his body. Although he would be sacrificing some speed, he would have the strength needed to win in the NFL. But as of right now, he does not have enough strength to win matchups against NFL linemen. His lack of strength also hinders his ability to be effective against the run. He does not have the strength to drop the anchor and sit in gaps and clog a lane.
Ivan Pace Jr. Draft Stock
Ivan Pace Jr. is arguably the best cover linebacker in the nation, as well as being a very solid pass rusher. But, I think his lack of size and strength will force his draft stock to go down. So, Ivan Pace Jr. will likely go in the late 4th round or early 5th round.
Final Thoughts on Ivan Pace Jr.
Ivan Pace Jr. is a very interesting talent at the linebacker position. As I mentioned earlier, he is arguably the best cover linebacker in the nation. Thus making him a prospect that any team will want on their roster. He is also a gifted pass rusher that can beat linemen by using his amazing speed and explosiveness. But, his size and strength raise many questions regarding his future in the NFL. Personally, I think that he will have a solid career in the NFL if given a chance.
Player Comparison
Ivan Pace Jr. reminds me a lot of Christian Harris. But, I should note that Pace is significantly better in zone coverage than Harris. But the other aspects of their games are similar.
