UCF's Deshawn Pace has no hard feelings toward Cincinnati Bearcats

LAS VEGAS – Deshawn Pace attended Big 12 media days for the second year in a row.

However, Wednesday's event was different as Pace was representing his new team, the UCF Knights. Last November, after leading the Cincinnati Bearcats with 80 tackles, 11 tackles for loss along with 1.5 sacks and an interception, Pace entered the transfer portal.

It was not voluntary. Suspended for the Oklahoma game for a "violation of team rules", the staff elected to part ways with several players including Pace. Eventually, running back Myles Montgomery and defensive back Bryon Threats joined Pace in Orlando with Gus Malzahn's UCF Knights.

"It really wasn't a decision," Pace said last November. "I was more likely to be told. It's all good. It's just football. They said it's a business."

New threads, new team

Tuesday, sporting a pink jacket and pink bow tie, Pace was in Las Vegas for the first time as part of the UCF contingent. The Colerain product, who enjoys the Joker character from Batman, wore a grin in addition to his fitted suit.

While Wednesday's Las Vegas temperatures reached 117, Pace has been getting used to the humidity of Central Florida.

"It's very sticky, it's different," Pace said. "It's a whole new climate change for me. When you walk outside your house you just want to go back inside. It prepares us and helps us get in shape. We run a lot."

From Bearcats to Knights

With Pace in Vegas with his new teammates, two of his old teammates, Montgomery and Threats are about to join him in the Sunshine State to get ready for 2024 in new colors.

"We're all good," Pace said. "We're holding up. Bryon (Threats) is back at home lifting up, Myles (Montgomery) is lifting too getting ready for the season."

He says the transition from UC to UCF hasn't been difficult. He is aware of the pending match-up with the Bearcats Oct. 12 at "The Bounce House" in Orlando.

"We're looking forward to it but we're going to take it week-by-week before we get to UC," Pace said.

Pace says the UCF staff loves him playing at weak-side linebacker/sniper and he rotates to safety on third down. The plan is to take advantage of his final season to be an NFL draft choice, something his brother and former Bearcat Ivan Pace Jr. was not. Ivan Pace Jr. was a consensus All-American with Cincinnati in 2022 and made the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team last season with the Minnesota Vikings.

"I'm projected third-round I think," Pace said. "I just have to make sure I have a good season and execute."

The Pace brothers are still tight having just returned from a vacation trip to Lake Cumberland where they went tubing and wakeboarding. He has yet to experience the lakes and surrounding water of Florida.

Saying the right things

As for the home date with his former team this fall, Pace is not delivering any bulletin board material. That may change during the game in Orlando but for now, there's no bad blood.

"I've got that game circled but there aren't hard feelings," Pace said. "I love my boys over there, no hard feelings at all."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Deshawn Pace looks forward to playing Cincinnati Bearcats at UCF