Ivan Pace Jr. Added to Top National Award Watchlist

CINCINNATI — UC football standout Ivan Pace Jr. is now on the Chuck Bednarik Award watchlist. 

The linebacker joins highly-touted names from around the country vying to be the nation's top defensive player. The award already named him Player of the Week once this season.

Pace is PFF's highest-graded defensive player (92.6) and has some astounding figures halfway through the season.

He's posted 62 tackles (13th nationally), 30 solo tackles (t-35th), five sacks (t-13th), and 12.5 tackles for loss (t-first) in 2022. 

Now he and the Bearcats have an idle week before facing their toughest conference road stretch of the season against SMU and UCF.