Central Michigan transfer Jonah Pace finds another home in Iowa’s defensive line room

IOWA CITY — Several years before the Central Michigan transfer entered the portal, Jonah Pace spent some time at the Iowa football facility.

The Marengo, Ill., native went on a visit during one of the Hawkeyes’ junior days. It was long enough ago that he does not remember much, but the former 2021 recruit does remember he left Iowa’s Hansen Football Performance Center without an offer.

“He probably never thought he would be at this moment right now,” said Pace, now a Hawkeye, from the lobby of the Hansen Football Performance Center, thinking back to his past self that did not get the Iowa offer out of high school.

Now that the 6-foot-5, 285-pound defensive tackle finally has his opportunity at Iowa after four years at Central Michigan, he has the potential to make an immediate impact in Iowa City.

“He’s full throttle,” fellow defensive lineman Max Llewellyn said of Pace. “He’s hitting it hard. So, I’m seeing a lot of good things out of him.”

As usual for newcomers — including many who end up starting right away — Pace was not listed on Iowa’s pre-spring depth chart. But the Hawkeyes could greatly benefit from Pace’s experience as they overcome the absence of NFL-bound defensive tackle (and double-team magnet) Yahya Black.

The only other Hawkeye in the interior who has 800-plus defensive snaps at the FBS level is Aaron Graves, per Pro Football Focus. Jeremiah Pittman has the next-most experience among defensive tackles with 425 career defensive snaps.

The level of competition will be significantly higher in the Big Ten than what Pace saw with Central Michigan in the MAC, but he seems undaunted.

“Football is football at the end of the day,” Pace said.

Pace was a mainstay on the Chippewas’ defense, appearing in their last 36 games over the past three seasons and starting in every game in 2024. (He also appeared in one game in 2021 as he redshirted.)

“I love Central,” Pace said. “That’s always going to be my home home. I grew up there.”

His 2024 season was especially impressive, as he posted 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. He had 24 defensive stops — plays Pro Football Focus deems as a “failure” for the offense — which ranked fourth among interior linemen in the MAC.

“I’m not obviously flashy in any ways,” Pace said. “But I’m a guy that’s going to be detailed. He’s going to hustle to the ball, play with everything he’s got. … In the pass game, I feel like I bring an edge there.”

He entered the portal on Dec. 2 — about two weeks after Central Michigan’s Jim McElwain announced his retirement — and committed to the Hawkeyes on Dec. 23. Pace visited other schools, but his decision to be a Hawkeye was a “no-brainer.”

“I’ve been through the college experience,” Pace said. “I’ve been through stuff. I knew what I was looking for. … Walking into this building, it felt like home. Not a lot of places you could say that. Some places, you could feel overwhelmed. But walking in here, you felt like you were a part of it.”

Along with finding a place that “felt like home,” Pace sought “a place where the coach would take me to the next level.” Iowa seems to check that box, too, considering the Hawkeyes’ defensive line room has produced six NFL draft picks in the last six years.

“Coach (Kelvin) Bell and Coach (Kirk) Ferentz — the long traditions they have here,” Pace said. “That’s something that is in their repertoire.”

Pace has one year of eligibility remaining to glean as much as he can from Bell, Ferentz and the rest of the Iowa coaching staff. It might not be as long as 16- or 17-year-old Pace was hoping for, but 22-year-old Pace will certainly take it.

“Things happen for a reason,” Pace said. “I’m more than happy with how my college career has turned out so far. … Coming here, I’m blessed to have what I have now.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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