Saturday on day three of the NFL draft, more University of Cincinnati cell phones were buzzing. After a long wait through rounds two and three on Friday, wide receiver Tyler Scott finally heard his phone ring early Saturday afternoon courtesy of the Chicago Bears. Not long after, tight end Josh Whyle joined Scott as a fourth-rounder as the Titans called from Nashville.
Tyler Scott
About seven hours of waiting by the TV was finally rewarded Saturday when Tyler Scott's phone rang with Bears coach Matt Eberflus on the other end.
"He said, 'So I hear we're going to be throwing some bombs to you?'" Scott said. "They want to use my playmaking ability, my big vertical, deep-stretch ability, all of those different things. Looks like they want to use me to the best of my ability like I did at Cincinnati."
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Scott at 5-foot-10, 177 pounds bypassed his senior year at UC after grabbing 54 passes for 899 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He had over 100 yards receiving in four different games with a career-high 10 catches for 185 yards and three scores vs. Indiana.
In 2021 when UC made the College Football Playoff semifinal he had 30 catches for 520 yards and five touchdowns, including one in the American Athletic Conference title game against Houston. The Akron-area native also played in all 10 games in his true freshman season and had a catch in the Peach Bowl against Georgia.
Scott's been clocked as low as 4.29 in the 40-yard dash. He ran 4.44 at the NFL Combine and 4.32 at UC's Pro Day. He also adds a vertical leap of 39'5".
"At the end of the day, I'm a part of something that not many people get to be a part of," Scott said. "I'm excited. I think you just have to get your foot through the door. Same thing I said when I was in high school getting recruited. I just said if I can get my foot in the door, I can make something happen. I can live my dreams."
In practice, he faced the likes of AAC Defensive Player of the Year and future Jet Sauce Gardner as well as Jim Thorpe Award winner Coby Bryant of the Seahawks and second-round pick Bryan Cook of the Chiefs. When they were picked a year ago, Scott didn't picture himself in the same position a year later.
"I didn't see myself being part of the draft this year, but some things happened," he said. "I thought it was a good opportunity to come out. At the end of the day it's a dream come true to be able to compete at the next level."
Josh Whyle
Scott was the 133rd overall pick in the fourth round. Fourteen picks later, teammate Josh Whyle went in round five to the Tennessee Titans with the 147th overall pick. Heading to Nashville suits the country music fan fine.
Whyle had previous interest from Tennessee in that head coach Mike Vrabel is a friend and former teammate of ex-Bearcats coach Luke Fickell.
"Him and Coach Fick go way back, he's been in Cincinnati a couple times," Whyle said. "I'm excited to get down there."
The Bearcat bruising receiver adds, "the Whyle's will roll deep" into Music City.
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Whyle was All-American Athletic Conference three seasons in a row and participated in the 2023 Senior Bowl. He broke the UC record for touchdown receptions by a tight end with 15 surpassing, another La Salle High School product, Brent Celek. He finished with 88 career receptions for 1,062 yards. His 2022 season-best was seven catches for 70 yards in a 23-3 win over Temple.
One of the descriptions of Whyle in Saturday's media was that of being, "the poor man's Travis Kelce". UC's former No. 81 has no issue with the label. Between the lines, he admits to a mean streak.
"I do not take offense to that," Whyle said. "He's the best to ever do it, man. If I'm in his shadow, that's fine by me."
Ivan Pace Jr. goes unselected after a long Saturday afternoon
The 5-foot-10 1/2", 235-pound Pace was a unanimous First Team All-American in his one season at the University of Cincinnati. Pace earned recognition from all five NCAA organizations (Walter Camp, Sporting News, FWAA, AFC, AP).
He finished 2022 with 137 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and three forced fumbles. He was AAC Defensive Player of the Year, a Butkus and Chuck Bednarik Award Finalist and the No. 2 rated defensive player in the country according to Pro Football Focus.
Despite the accolades. Pace went undrafted Saturday. The Chargers called in the seventh round hinting at a possible pick, but selected another player when their slot was called. Pace's agent, Roosevelt Barnes, arrived to the Pace's Colerain home late in the day and fielded several phone calls (as did Pace) about free agent deals.
Barnes explained to the family how it may end up for the better, having the option to choose a team rather than being chosen. He also told one team, "you're going to get one pissed-off dude!"
Ivan Pace Jr. played his first three seasons at Miami University before joining his younger brother, Deshawn, on the Bearcats for 2022. Pace stood out in the 2023 Senior Bowl week. Pace and Barnes negotiated a free-agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
Other post-draft free-agent deals
The first announced were former Bearcat running back Charles McClelland to the Titans, offensive lineman Lorenz Metz to the Bears and linebacker Wil Huber to the Vikings.
Other Bearcats signing undrafted-free-agent deals include offensive lineman Jeremy Cooper with the Kansas City Chiefs, tight end Leonard Taylor with the Jacksonville Jaguars and cornerback Arquon Bush with the Seattle Seahawks where he'll reunite with former teammate Coby Bryant. Offensive lineman James Tunstall Sunday received an invite to mini-camp with the Vikings.
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