Welcome to the NFL young beginner! After being important players in their universities, rookies must once again earn their places in the pros. Who are they and what hopes do they raise? Come and discover these new gems. Undrafted, Ivan Pace nevertheless established himself as a starter in the NFL.
Ivan Pace junior
Born December 16, 2000 in Cincinnati, Ohio
1m78 for 105 kilos
Linebacker, Minnesota Vikings
Ivan Pace is smaller than average at this position. The short length of his arms made NFL staff fear his ineffectiveness against the behemoths populating the NFL. Ivan Pace was therefore not one of the 259 players drafted in 2023.
If I were a starter in the NFL: serving the team
Brian Asamoah's injury gives Ivan Pace the opportunity to get playing time during training camp. The chance he took to be included in the final squad of 53 players.
A starter from the start of the season, he performed well with 29 tackles in five games. But the team has a very negative win-loss record of 1-4! The Vikings staff then changed their defensive philosophy and other players were on the field more than the rookie.
The results are convincing since the Vikings have 4 victories in a row. But from 63% of snaps played in the first five games, Ivan Pace saw his playing time reduced to 21.5% in the next four!
Jordan Hicks' injury in Week 10 gives the rookie more playing time again. In week 11 against Denver, Ivan Pace plays all of his team's defensive snaps and he is the defensive player with a headset equipped with headphones to receive and then transmit instructions from coordinator Brian Flores.
Against Chicago in week 12 he signed 9 tackles including 1 sack and the following match against the Raiders, Ivan Pace confirmed with 13 tackles, another sack and an interception!
If Ivan Pace was a quality: uncontrollable
Its lower than average center of gravity gives it an elusive side. In addition, his art of dodging is lethal because the power of his thighs allows him to change direction suddenly.
An interior linebacker must meet the cuts riders: this is why the 20 Shuttle and 3-Cone workshops are important at this position. During his Pro Day, Ivan Pace posted times on both exercises placing him in the top 5 among 2023 linebacker candidates.
If Ivan Pace was a flaw: must improve in coverage
A linebacker in the NFL must know how to defend in the air more than ever. Ivan Pace has the liveliness to follow the route of a tight end but not yet enough intelligence of the game to prevent the reception: 83% of completions authorized (20 out of 24)!
So if Ivan Pace is formidable against the ground game, he will have to improve in pass defense, because the NFL is a league where attacks pass more than they run.
If I were an NFL player: Quincy Williams (Jets)
Quinnen Williams' older brother also lacks the physical standards for this position in the NFL. After two seasons not justifying his status as Jacksonville's surprise choice, in the 3rd round of the 2019 draft, he has flourished for three years with Robert Saleh's Jets. In New York, he signed 110 tackles in 2021, 106 in 2022 and already 110 including 13 inflicting a loss in 13 games in 2023!
Both players have the same quickness to accelerate towards the runners as soon as the ball is engaged. After 14 weeks in the NFL, offenses are going on the ground on 40.8% of their attempts. If this league is more and more aerial, defending the race remains very important.
If I were a journey: my family first
A stocky high school student, Ivan Pace had all the qualities to win the regional title in his category in wrestling in 2018. In the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, he was also a football player, on offense (runner) and on defense (linebacker). . Already, his lack of size made him only a 2-star recruit (out of 5) in the eyes of university recruiters, despite remarkable production in high school.
In 2019, he therefore joined the University of Miami but that of Ohio and not the prestigious Hurricanes from Florida! From his freshman season, however, he signed 7 sacks. The 2020 season being disrupted by the pandemic (only 3 games played by the university), he stands out again in 2021 with 13 tackles for losses in 13 games!
Despite offers from LSU, Arkansas and Missouri, he preferred to join his city's university, the one which had not offered him a scholarship three years previously! His decision to play for Bearcats from Cincinnati was especially motivated by joining the university where his younger brother played.
He then forms an intimidating duo on the second defensive curtain with Deshawn Pace, also a linebacker: 199 tackles between them in 2022 (137 for Ivan and 62 for Deshawn). Bigger and better in coverage, Deshawn Pace will be coveted during the 2024 draft: 80 tackles including 11 for losses and 6 passes defended including 1 interception in 11 2023 games!
Ivan Pace was able to overcome his lack of size to become a starter in the NFL. What if he becomes a true defensive leader for years to come?
