Major Outlet Names Ivan Pace Jr. National Defensive Player of the Week

CINCINNATI — The accolades keep rolling in for UC linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. after his stellar performance against Indiana. The defensive stopper totaled 15 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and three quarterback hurries in UC's 45-24 win to earn PFF Defensive Player of the Week.

Here are the notable analytic numbers from PFF surrounding Pace's monstrous day.

• Pace gathered six total pressures—with two sacks—on 20 rushes for the game.
• He dropped into coverage over 50 times against the Hoosiers and still finished with fewer yards allowed than he did to start the game. The 6-foot, 235-pound off-ball linebacker allowed -2 yards in coverage and recorded two passing stops.
• Pace also gathered nine tackles against the Hoosiers’ rushing attack on 32 run-defense snaps. He tallied four defensive stops and three tackles for loss or no gain.
• Pace is now the highest-graded off-ball linebacker in the FBS through Week 4.

Any way you slice it, Cincinnati has one of the best linebackers in the country, and he looks to be hitting his stride right as conference play begins.

Pace and the rest of the team are back in action this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET against Tulsa. The game is available on ESPNU via fuboTV—start your free trial here.