Schools taking notice of Paces versatility

Miami Central currently has 11 seniors with Division I FBS offers. With all the talent at the school, it has become a regular stop for the many college coaches that recruit South Florida. One of the most talented, and versatile, prospects the Rockets have to offer is Miles Pace.

The 6-foot, 237-pound defender does a little bit of everything for Central. Though primarily a defensive end, there are also times when Pace drops back as both an inside and outside linebacker. So far, that versatility has earned him five written offers.

"I have offers from West Virginia, UCF, South Florida, Clemson and FIU," Pace said.

Colleges seem to be split on where Pace will line up at the next level with half recruiting him for the defensive line and half at linebacker. Though he has a preference of the two, it will not make a huge impact in his eventual decision.

"Clemson, they want me to play linebacker," he said. "Central Florida, they like me at d-end but possibly at linebacker too. Florida, they want me to be a d-end. West Virginia, I think linebacker but I'm really not sure. FIU wants me at linebacker.

"I feel most comfortable with my hand down on the ground. That's what I've played and that's what I'm used to. I'd like to play that but it really doesn't matter, though. I'll play any position that will get me on the field. I think I have the skill set to be able to line up at a number of places and I see that as a strength of mine."

This summer, Pace has been to two in-state camps and plans to hit up a few more campuses before school starts again.

"I went up to the Florida State and Florida camps earlier this summer," he said. "They were great. It was a good opportunity to be able to play on a college field. I worked out at linebacker at both of the camps. I've talked to the Florida linebacker coach some and he seems to like me. I haven't really had a chance to talk to the Florida State coach."

Though the Gators have yet to offer, they have been the school that has been in the most contact with Pace.

"I've talked to the Central Florida coach a little and I talk to the Florida coach," he said. "All the other schools, I haven't talked to them very much at all. I've been talking to the Florida coach a lot, actually. Coach (Stan) Drayton, he's the recruiter down here so I've been talking to him."

Though Clemson was one of the first to officially offer the big defender, Pace is unsure if it is still on the table.

"They offered me the first week of the season last year," Pace said. "That's when the letter came in. I'm not really sure where I stand with them, though. My coach isn't sure if the offer is still on the table since I waited so long. They have two in-state guys that they're looking at and they're waiting on them.

"I'm going to get their coach's number from my coach and call him this week. I guess I'm sort of in a hold waiting to see what the two in-state guys are going to do but I want to see where exactly I stand."

Pace says he would like to make a decision in the next month or so. If the Tigers do end up having a spot available, they stand a very good chance of landing his commitment.

"Clemson is one that is really standing out right now," he said. "South Florida is as well. Those are the two main ones out of the schools that have offered me. I like how both of their defenses play. They're really aggressive."