Northwestern University Athletics

2020 Football Roster

JR Pace makes an interception vs. Maryland
Photo by: S. J. Carrera, Inc.
Fitz and Team Big Ten Championship
JR PAce brandon Joseph Greg newsome II
Northwestern University Football against Duke September 8, 2018 in Evanston, Ill.
Photo by: S. J. Carrera, Inc.
JR Pace
Jersey Number 5

JR Pace

  • Height:
    6-1
  • Weight:
    210
  • Position:
    DB
  • Class:
    Senior
  • Hometown:
    College Park, Ga.
  • High School:
    Woodward Academy
2020: Snatched his eighth career interception against Maryland (10/24)...Made his 27th start and recorded his first quarterback hit...Recorded six tackles, including one for loss in the comeback victory over Iowa (10/31)...Compiled seven tackles and contributed to shutout of Nebraska's offense in the second half (11/7)...Recorded three total tackles at Purdue (11/14) and vs. Wisconsin (11/21)...Registered a season-high nine tackles at Michigan State (11/28) and tied for career-high in assisted tackles (7)...Compiled five total tackles in Big Ten Championship vs. Ohio State (12/19)...Recorded eight total tackles in Citrus Bowl victory over Auburn (1/1/21).  

2019: Started all 12 games, accumulation 42 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception ... Began his junior campaign with six total tackles against Stanford (8/31) ... Recorded an interception along with two tackles at Wisconsin (9/28) ... Tied his season-high with six total tackles against Iowa (10/26).

2018: Started 14 games as a sophomore safety, and was third on the team with 82 tackles … All-Big Ten Honorable Mention ... Academic All-Big Ten ... Tied for the team lead with three interceptions and was second on the team with seven pass breakups … Made an interception and returned it for 26 yards against Purdue (8/30) … Had two pass breakups against Akron (9/15) … Made a career-high 11 tackles against Michigan (9/29) … Posted eight tackles including a TFL and two pass breakups against Michigan State (10/6) … Had a career-high two interceptions against Nebraska including one in overtime (10/13) … Made seven tackles including .5 TFL against Iowa (11/10) … Registered six tackles and a pass breakup against Illinois (11/24) … Made seven tackles, had one interception and returned a fumble for a gain of 34 yards earning the title defensive MVP against Utah (12/31).

2017: One of 13 true first year players to see action during the regular season ... Made his first career tackle, a solo stop, in a win over Bowling Green ... Recorded his first career interception at No. 10 Wisconsin ... Also had an interception and 23-yard return in a victory over Iowa ... Made a season-high two solo tackles at Illinois ... Finished the regular season with four tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups.

High School: Verbally committed to Northwestern on May 15, 2016 ... Ranked as a consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, Scout, Rivals and ESPN ... Rated the No. 9 safety in the state of Georgia by Scout ... Team captain helped lead the War Eagles to back-to-back Georgia 4A State Semifinals ... Registered 150 tackles and four interceptions in two seasons at safety, while adding more than 120 catches over three seasons as a wide receiver ... Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-State Team ... Two-time First Team All-Region (2015, ’16) ... Two-time All-Metro (2015, ’16) ... Played two seasons of varsity basketball and one season of lacrosse at Woodward Academy ... Father, Jason, played running back at the United States Naval Academy.
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