Ivan Pace Jr. leads way among UC football Bearcats in Senior, Shrine Bowls

Thursday night from Las Vegas and Saturday from Mobile, Alabama, a handful of University of Cincinnati Bearcat NFL draft prospects were able to show off their talents to a national audience on the NFL Network.

UC football: Former Cincinnati Bearcat football standouts to be showcased in upcoming bowl games

Thursday was the East-West Shrine Bowl, followed by Saturday's Reese's Senior Bowl. Here's how some notable Bearcats fared:

Ivan Pace Jr.

Former Cincinnati Bearcat linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. tallied a game-high 10 tackles to earn Defensive MVP honors and lead the National Team to a 27-10 victory in the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Saturday at the University of South Alabama's Whitney Stadium.

For Pace Jr., a late selection for the game, it concluded a remarkable final collegiate season. The Cincinnati native and Colerain High School alum finished in the Top 10 in the nation in tackles (137), tackles for loss (21.5) and sacks (10) en route to becoming the Bearcats’ first-ever unanimous All-American.

Pace again had to deal with the size issue coming in with an official measurement of just over 5 feet, 10 inches and 231 pounds but turned heads toppling linemen like 342-pound Darnell Wright of Tennessee and 337-pound O'Cyrus Torrence of Florida.

"I was mainly a blitzer at Cincinnati," Pace told Senior Bowl media. "I started out in coverage but I needed to go blitz. It just worked out better for our team. Coming up here, they said I couldn't cover. I just had to do that and I did that and I showed them I could do that. Really, the only thing that is stopping them from drafting me is my height. Stop thinking about the height and you've got a ballplayer."

Josh Whyle

Whyle had one catch for 13 yards in the Senior Bowl for the winning National team. Whyle checked in officially at almost 6 feet, 6.5 inches and 260 pounds, 10 pounds over where he was with the Bearcats.

The ESPN draft board projects Whyle as the ninth tight end taken.

Tre Tucker

Tucker had one reception for 18 yards in the game along with a 12-yard rush for the victorious National squad.

Tucker was timed as one of the fastest players in Mobile at 20.24 miles per hour. He was officially measured at the Senior Bowl as a little over 5 feet, 8.5 inches and 187 pounds.

Leonard Taylor

The tight end played for the East squad against the West in Thursday's Shrine Bowl but did not have a reception. He was officially measured for the game at just over 6 feet, 4.5 inches and 248 pounds.

Charles McClelland

UC's top rusher this past season had seven carries for 37 yards for the West along with 1 reception for nine yards in the Shrine Bowl in Vegas. The West won the game 12-3.

Arquon Bush

Bush was on the East team roster for the Shrine Bowl.

What's next?

Pace, Whyle, Tucker, Taylor and Bush will join fellow Bearcat Tyler Scott at the NFL Scouting Combine, which will run from March 2-5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How did UC's potential NFL draftees fare in Senior, Shrine Bowls?