TicketsCINCINNATI -- University of Cincinnati linebacker Deshawn Pace and wide receiver/kick returner Tre Tucker earned Defensive Player of the Week and Honor Roll accolades, respectively, from the AAC for their recent performances.
Pace, who had just 10 tackles as a freshman reserve last year, maintained his team-lead in stops with a game-high 10 (nine solo) in Saturday's 38-24 win at Indiana. In fitting fashion, his first-career interception came at midfield on Indiana's potential game-tying drive, returning it 39 yards to set up the Bearcats' game-clinching score in the final minutes. The defense also held the Hoosiers to a modest 376 total yards (39 in a scoreless fourth quarter), and he also recorded his second TFL of the season.
The Cincinnati native (Colerain HS) has 25 tackles, 15 solo, on the year, and Cincinnati ranks third nationally in defensive pass efficiency.
Tucker sent the well-traveled Bearcats crowd into a frenzy in the third quarter, dodging past only Hoosier fingertips for a 99-yard kick return touchdown in the third quarter, putting UC back on top, 23-21. It was his second kick-return score after having one against USF in 2020 (which also marked the program's first since 2011). Tucker was an All-AAC returner last year as well after leading the league with 29.9 yards per attempt. He has six catches for 70 yards this season with the only KR score in the league this year.
No. 8 Cincinnati is off this weekend before an Oct. 2 contest at No. 10 Notre Dame. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. on NBC.
Pace, who had just 10 tackles as a freshman reserve last year, maintained his team-lead in stops with a game-high 10 (nine solo) in Saturday's 38-24 win at Indiana. In fitting fashion, his first-career interception came at midfield on Indiana's potential game-tying drive, returning it 39 yards to set up the Bearcats' game-clinching score in the final minutes. The defense also held the Hoosiers to a modest 376 total yards (39 in a scoreless fourth quarter), and he also recorded his second TFL of the season.
The Cincinnati native (Colerain HS) has 25 tackles, 15 solo, on the year, and Cincinnati ranks third nationally in defensive pass efficiency.
Tucker sent the well-traveled Bearcats crowd into a frenzy in the third quarter, dodging past only Hoosier fingertips for a 99-yard kick return touchdown in the third quarter, putting UC back on top, 23-21. It was his second kick-return score after having one against USF in 2020 (which also marked the program's first since 2011). Tucker was an All-AAC returner last year as well after leading the league with 29.9 yards per attempt. He has six catches for 70 yards this season with the only KR score in the league this year.
No. 8 Cincinnati is off this weekend before an Oct. 2 contest at No. 10 Notre Dame. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. on NBC.