The Minnesota Vikings found a gem in last years undrafted free agent signing Ivan Pace Jr. The linebacker out of Cincinnati impre sed many during training camp last season and earned himself a starting role with the team alongside veteran Jordan Hicks.With Hicks now with the Cleveland Browns, Pace Jr will be wearing the teams green dot on defense this season, a considerable task and responsibility to instill in a second-year player.Since arriving in Minnesota last season, Pace Jr. has garnered high praise from head coach Kevin OConnell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores. So far in training camp, it is more of the same for the former Bearcat. He quickly rose to the top of the depth chart last season and earned significant playing time, including eleven starts. This year, he will be the Zane Mcintyre Jersey primary communicator on the defensive side of the ball.Pace wore the green dot in spurts last season when Hicks battled injuries, which was already seen as an impre sive vote of confidence in him by the coaching staff, and the expectation is he will wear it in all 17 games this upcoming season. Pace showcased a high-level football IQ and versatile athletic skillset last season and developed a nose for finding the football, totaling 102 tackles and 2.5 sacks in his rookie campaign.Some thoughts from 2nd-year LB Ivan Pace Jr. following today's practice: Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) When the Vikings signed Pace after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, most analysts saw the signing as a ma sive win for the team, as Pace was expected by many to be drafted as highly as the third or fourth round. Now entering year two, the Cincinnati alum has a chance to cement himself as one of the league's best young linebackers in the NFL.With the Vikings opting not to bring back several key veteran defenders like Hicks and pa s rusher Danielle Hunter this off-season to save payroll and create a plethora of cap flexibility, the Vikings will be leaning on several young defenders to fill the void of losing productive veterans. That starts with Pace continuing to build off a solid rookie season and turning himself into a game wrecker and a leader on this Vikings defense. Dmitry Ovchinnikov Jersey