Vikings UDFA Named a Player to Watch During Training Camp
Josh Frey
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Oftentimes, there is a certain level of excitement and hype from a fanbase when the NFL Draft concludes. The injection of young talent into the roster, oftentimes at positions of dire need, offers a sense of hope that the next season will go better than the last.
However, it isn’t too often where we see a similar amount of buzz around a class of undrafted free agents. With the Minnesota Vikings, though, that is exactly the situation we find ourselves in after a very intriguing group of 15 UDFAs joined the team this spring.
One of those Vikings UDFAs has been named a player to watch during training camp this summer by Pro Football Focus‘ Austin Scott: LB Ivan Pace Jr. Here is what the analyst had to say of the Cincinnati product:
A 2023 NFL Draft Twitter darling, Cincinnati Bearcat Ivan Pace Jr. seemed primed to hear his name called in what appeared to be a weaker off-ball linebacker class. Despite his somewhat diminutive stature for the position, he posted an elite 93.0 defensive grade, supplemented by 50 run stops and 46 total pressures, in 2022. Pace consistently made his presence felt as a gap plugger and blitzer, showcasing a great feel for navigating traffic and working off blocks with good change of direction and contact balance.
While Pace lacks coverage instincts and sideline-to-sideline athleticism, there is certainly a role in the Vikings’ linebacker room behind Brian Asamoah, Jordan Hicks and Troy Dye for a physical sparkplug with a nose for the football.
It certainly was a surprise to see Pace’s name last on the board throughout the entire 2023 NFL Draft after an extremely successful career with the Bearcats in college. As Scott alludes to, the linebacker made himself known as a terrific blitzer at the linebacker position, offering support both as a run-stopper and pass-rusher.
Now, he finds himself on a Vikings defense that certainly has room for another player at the linebacker spot. Jordan Hicks, Brian Asamoah, and Troy Reeder will likely be the main contenders for starting spots, but if Pace can outdo Troy Dye and William Kwenkeu in training camp, there should be a place for him on the roster in 2023.
Particularly in a Brian Flores defense where the scheme will be ultra-aggressive and filled with blitzes for the linebackers and safeties, Pace should be an extraordinary fit, allowing him to potentially have an easier time securing a spot on the 53-man roster.
Training camp does not have an official start date yet, but it will get underway sometime in late July.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.