TicketsCINCINNATI – Cincinnati football head coach Luke Fickell announced the additions of transfers Ben Bryant (quarterback, Eastern Michigan), Ivan Pace (linebacker, Miami [Ohio]) and Nick Mardner (wide receiver, Hawaii), on Wednesday.
The trio joins kicker Ryan Coe (Delaware), who was a previously announced transfer addition last month.
Bryant spent three seasons as a backup quarterback at UC before starring at Eastern Michigan this past fall. In 2021, he completed 279 of 408 pass attempts for 3,121 yards and 14 touchdowns with seven interceptions, leading the Eagles to a 7-6 record and an appearance in the LendingTree Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Bryant's 68.4 completion percentage led the MAC and ranked 11th nationally among starting quarterbacks. He averaged 240.1 yards per game, which ranked third in the conference.
Bryant totaled four 300-yard games, including a 354-yard, three-touchdown performance at Toledo.
"We are thrilled to welcome Ben back to our Cincinnati program," Fickell said. "Obviously, Ben knows our program and our coaches well, so it was a natural fit for him to come back when he decided he wanted to transfer. He's an outstanding young man, who will add leadership, experience and competition to our quarterback room. He had a great season at Eastern Michigan this past fall, and we look forward to him competing with our quarterbacks this spring."
The La Grange, Ill., native appeared in 16 games for the Bearcats from 2018 to 2020, completing 46 passes on 73 attempts for 528 yards and two touchdowns. He added 96 yards and two scores on 30 rushes. His only start came on the road at No. 18 Memphis, where he played valiantly in place of Desmond Ridder in a 34-24 loss, throwing for 229 yards, while tossing one touchdown and rushing for another score.
Bryant was a four-star prospect according to ESPN and three-star recruit according to 247Sports. He passed for more than 5,000 yards and 59 touchdowns during his prep career at Lyons Township.
Pace collected Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors from Pro Football
Focus and All-MAC First Team honors after leading the conference and ranking 10th in the nation with 125 tackles. He added 13 TFLs and four sacks. He had a team-best nine tackles in a 27-14 win over North Texas in the Frisco Football Classic bowl game on Dec. 23. He had five tackles and a TFL against UC earlier in the season.
Pace also led the RedHawks with 7.0 sacks as a true freshman in 2019, including an NCAA-record-tying six sacks in a win over Akron.
"Ivan is a defensive playmaker who we expect to make an immediate impact on our defense," Fickell said. "We are excited to have him add experience and leadership to our team. I've watched Ivan play for a number of years and he keeps getting better and better. He was one of the best linebackers in the Mid-American Conference the past three years. It will be fun to watch him team up with his brother Deshawn once again."
For his career, Pace has 170 tackles, 21.5 TFLs and 11 sacks over 29 games.
Pace starred at Colerain High School and was a team captain, collecting Ohio Division I Defensive Player of the Year honors after he totaled 84 tackles, 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles his senior season.
He will get to team with is younger brother Deshawn Pace, who led the Bearcats with four interceptions and finished with 94 tackles and 9.5 TFLs during his sophomore season. He earned honorable mention All-AAC honors for 2021.
Mardner totaled 46 receptions for team highs of 913 yards and five touchdowns at Hawaii in 2021. His robust 19.9 yards per catch average ranked second in the Mountain West Conference and 10th in the nation. He had three 100-yard games this fall, including a six-catch, 110-yard, one-touchdown performance against Oregon State and a 139-yard outing versus UNLV. Mardner also had a 147-yard game in 2020.
"We are excited to have Nick join our Cincinnati family," Fickell said. "Nick will immediately be a great addition to our wide receivers' room, adding competition and veteran leadership. He has plenty of experience playing at Hawaii and is a proven big-play threat with outstanding ball skills and speed to match. I can't wait to watch him get on the field this spring."
A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Mardner attended Clarkson Secondary School and enrolled at Hawaii in 2018 where he redshirted his first season. From 2019 to 2021, he tallied 62 receptions for 1,270 yards and eight touchdowns with an impressive 20.5 yard per catch average for his career with the Rainbow Warriors.
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The trio joins kicker Ryan Coe (Delaware), who was a previously announced transfer addition last month.
Bryant spent three seasons as a backup quarterback at UC before starring at Eastern Michigan this past fall. In 2021, he completed 279 of 408 pass attempts for 3,121 yards and 14 touchdowns with seven interceptions, leading the Eagles to a 7-6 record and an appearance in the LendingTree Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Bryant's 68.4 completion percentage led the MAC and ranked 11th nationally among starting quarterbacks. He averaged 240.1 yards per game, which ranked third in the conference.
Bryant totaled four 300-yard games, including a 354-yard, three-touchdown performance at Toledo.
"We are thrilled to welcome Ben back to our Cincinnati program," Fickell said. "Obviously, Ben knows our program and our coaches well, so it was a natural fit for him to come back when he decided he wanted to transfer. He's an outstanding young man, who will add leadership, experience and competition to our quarterback room. He had a great season at Eastern Michigan this past fall, and we look forward to him competing with our quarterbacks this spring."
The La Grange, Ill., native appeared in 16 games for the Bearcats from 2018 to 2020, completing 46 passes on 73 attempts for 528 yards and two touchdowns. He added 96 yards and two scores on 30 rushes. His only start came on the road at No. 18 Memphis, where he played valiantly in place of Desmond Ridder in a 34-24 loss, throwing for 229 yards, while tossing one touchdown and rushing for another score.
Bryant was a four-star prospect according to ESPN and three-star recruit according to 247Sports. He passed for more than 5,000 yards and 59 touchdowns during his prep career at Lyons Township.
Pace collected Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors from Pro Football
Focus and All-MAC First Team honors after leading the conference and ranking 10th in the nation with 125 tackles. He added 13 TFLs and four sacks. He had a team-best nine tackles in a 27-14 win over North Texas in the Frisco Football Classic bowl game on Dec. 23. He had five tackles and a TFL against UC earlier in the season.
Pace also led the RedHawks with 7.0 sacks as a true freshman in 2019, including an NCAA-record-tying six sacks in a win over Akron.
"Ivan is a defensive playmaker who we expect to make an immediate impact on our defense," Fickell said. "We are excited to have him add experience and leadership to our team. I've watched Ivan play for a number of years and he keeps getting better and better. He was one of the best linebackers in the Mid-American Conference the past three years. It will be fun to watch him team up with his brother Deshawn once again."
For his career, Pace has 170 tackles, 21.5 TFLs and 11 sacks over 29 games.
Pace starred at Colerain High School and was a team captain, collecting Ohio Division I Defensive Player of the Year honors after he totaled 84 tackles, 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles his senior season.
He will get to team with is younger brother Deshawn Pace, who led the Bearcats with four interceptions and finished with 94 tackles and 9.5 TFLs during his sophomore season. He earned honorable mention All-AAC honors for 2021.
Mardner totaled 46 receptions for team highs of 913 yards and five touchdowns at Hawaii in 2021. His robust 19.9 yards per catch average ranked second in the Mountain West Conference and 10th in the nation. He had three 100-yard games this fall, including a six-catch, 110-yard, one-touchdown performance against Oregon State and a 139-yard outing versus UNLV. Mardner also had a 147-yard game in 2020.
"We are excited to have Nick join our Cincinnati family," Fickell said. "Nick will immediately be a great addition to our wide receivers' room, adding competition and veteran leadership. He has plenty of experience playing at Hawaii and is a proven big-play threat with outstanding ball skills and speed to match. I can't wait to watch him get on the field this spring."
A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Mardner attended Clarkson Secondary School and enrolled at Hawaii in 2018 where he redshirted his first season. From 2019 to 2021, he tallied 62 receptions for 1,270 yards and eight touchdowns with an impressive 20.5 yard per catch average for his career with the Rainbow Warriors.
RESERVE YOUR 2022 SEASON TICKETS NOW
Football season tickets are moving quicker than ever. Current season ticket holders have until Feb. 28 to renew their tickets for 2022. The Bearcats Ticket Office is also accepting deposits for new football season tickets here.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Athletics, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.