Per GoBearcats:
Cincinnati senior linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. added First Team All-America honors from the Football Writers of America Association, Pro Football Focus and CBS Sports on Friday.
Pace Jr. now has All-America accolades from two of the five NCAA-recognized official All-America squads with the FWAA honor joining Thursday’s Walter Camp selection.
Pace Jr.’s selection marks three straight years that UC has had a First Team FWAA selection on defense. Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner grabbed the honor in 2020 and 2021.
Pace Jr. capped the 2022 season by ranking as the nation’s highest-graded linebacker (93.1) according to Pro Football Focus. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker, and a finalist for the Bednarik Award, presented to the nation’s top overall defensive player.
A Cincinnati native and Colerain High School product, Pace Jr. tallied 120 tackles to go along with 19.5 TFLs and 9.0 sacks in 2022, while leading a defense that ranked fifth nationally in yards per play allowed (4.52).
His 19.5 TFLs rank third in the nation, while his 120 stops are the 10th-most in the country and his nine sacks sit 14th.
In Week 4, he was outstanding against Indiana, tallying 15 tackles, 4.5 TFLs (fifth-most in UC history), 2.5 sacks and three QB hurries en route to AAC Defensive Player of the Week, Bednarik National Player of the Week and PFF Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Pace Jr. finished 10th in the nation with 125 tackles in 2021 while playing for Miami (Ohio). He had six sacks in a game for the Redhawks against Akron in 2019, as well.
Pace Jr. 2022 Honors
FWAA First Team All-American
Walter Camp First Team All-American
CBS Sports First Team All-American
PFF First Team All-American
AAC Defensive Player of the Year
Butkus Award Finalist
Bednarik Award Finalist
PFF’s Defensive Player of the Year
PFF’s Linebacker of the Year
