Cincinnati ILB Ivan Pace Jr. signed as undrafted free agent by Minnesota Vikings

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesThe transfer portal provides new opportunities. And sometimes, those new opportunities unleash a player to new heights.

Such was the case with inside linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., who transferred from Miami (OH) to crosstown rival Cincinnati for his senior season to play alongside his brother Deshawn. In a perfect environment, Ivan instantly became one of the most dominant defenders in the entire sport. He claimed AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named a consensus All-American — the first in Cincinnati history — after terrorizing backfields and ball carriers from September through December.

That dominance was recognized by the Minnesota Vikings,…