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Cincinnati Linebackers and Brothers, Deshawn and Ivan Pace Put on 2022 Butkus Award Watch

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Football

University of Cincinnati linebackers, and brothers, Deshawn and Ivan Pace have each claimed a spot on the preseason Butkus Award Watch List.

The pair each played at Colerain High School. Deshawn played in eight games as a freshman reserve in 2020 before breaking out in 2021. Ivan played his first three years at Miami (Ohio) before transferring to UC following an elite campaign for the RedHawks last fall.

Deshawn did nearly everything for the Bearcats' No. 10 defense last fall, finishing sixth in the AAC with 94 tackles (nine for loss) and a team-high four interceptions. Two of those picks went for 39- and 27-yard returns against Indiana and Notre Dame, respectively, in consecutive games into the red zone. He had others against UCF and South Florida, while blocking a field goal at Navy that set up a 52-yard return and Alex Bales kick as time expired in the half. Pace finished with nine stops against No. 1 Alabama in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl.

Ivan was named the Mid-American Conference's Defensive Player of the Year last season by Pro Football Focus, leading the MAC and finishing 10th nationally with 125 tackles. His six sacks against Akron in 2019 tied an NCAA record as well.

Darrian Beavers, a sixth-round pick of the New York Giants in April, was one of six semifinalists for the Butkus Award last season.

BEARCATS ON AWARD WATCH LISTS
Luke Fickell: Bobby Dodd (head coach)
Nick Mardner: Biletnikoff (wide receiver)
Leonard Taylor and Josh Whyle: Mackey (tight end)
Deshawn and Ivan Pace: Butkus (linebacker)

THE BEARCATS ARE READY TO RELOAD
Led by Fickell, the reigning consensus National Coach of the Year, and 12 returning starters, the Bearcats are the two-time defending AAC Champions and are coming off of a 13-1 season that culminated in a trip to the 2021 College Football Playoff. With a 44-7 mark since the start of 2018, Cincinnati's 86% winning percentage ranks among the nation's Top 5 winning percentages over the last four years.

Cincinnati opens the 2022 season at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 3 against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., before coming home to Nippert Stadium to welcome Kennesaw State at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 10.