Ivan Pace Jr.
Ivan Pace Jr. is an American professional football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He played college football for the Miami RedHawks before transferring to the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2022, where he was named a unanimous All-American and the AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Early life
Pace Jr. attended Colerain [High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)|Colerain High School] in Cincinnati, Ohio. He played linebacker and fullback in high school. He committed to Miami University to play college football.College career
Miami (OH)
Pace Jr. played in 13 games his true freshman year at linebacker and edge at Miami in 2019, recording 19 tackles and seven sacks. Six of those sacks came against Akron, which tied the NCAA record for most sacks in a game. In 2020, he started all three games in the COVID-19 pandemic shortened season and had 26 tackles. In 2021, he had 125 tackles, four sacks and an interception.Cincinnati
Pace Jr. transferred to the University of Cincinnati after the 2021 season. He joined his brother, Deshawn, who also plays linebacker for the team. He was a starter his first year at Cincinnati in 2022.Professional career
Pace signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023. On August 29, 2023, the Vikings announced that he had made the initial 53-man roster. In Week 14, Pace recorded 13 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, and an interception in a 3–0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, earning National Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week. As a rookie, Pace appeared in all 17 games and made 11 starts. He had 2.5 sacks, 102 total tackles, one interception, two passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Pace was named to the PFWA NFL All Rookie Team.In Week 7 of the 2024 season, against the Detroit Lions, Pace recorded a fumble recovery for a touchdown set up by teammate Josh Metellus. In a Week 18 rematch, he intercepted a Jared Goff pass, again set up by Metellus.