Versatile, coverage-savvy UCF linebacker with real playmaking juice
Deshawn Pace is a hybrid linebacker/nickel defender whose best calling card is versatility: in 2024 at UCF he started 11 games, posted 61 tackles with a team-high 40 solo stops, and tied for the team lead with two interceptions. Scouts and team notes consistently point to his quick acceleration, fluid hips, and comfort in coverage, which fit a modern defense that values interchangeable pieces. The tradeoff is that his thinner frame and below-average play strength can show up against bigger runners, so he fits best as an energetic, matchup-dependent defender rather than a pure downhill thumper.
