DeMarcus Ware

Demarcus is an excellent edge rusher with outstanding speed and change of direction agility. He lacks the ideal frame you look for in an every-down end and could be limited to situational duties in the NFL because of his lack of bulk. However, if one should watch his battles against 344-pound tackle Nate Griffin (Marshall) and 330-pounder Andrew Whitworth (LSU) in 2004, you will see a player that compensates for a lack of size with a relentless motor and excellent lateral agility. He is a fluid and flexible runner who plays at a low pad level and has proven to be very successful playing off the edge. Even with his long arms, when he works in-line, he struggles to disengage when the larger blockers lock on to him. However, he shows excellent snap anticipation ability and easily eludes blockers with his initial burst into the backfield. When he gets an edge on an offensive lineman's shoulder, he is quick to turn the corner and shows urgency closing on the passer. Ware can make opposite field plays due to his acceleration and has exceptional ability to come off the edge to collapse the pocket and reach the quarterback. He is a superb chase guy who moves easily coming from the backside. Despite giving up considerable bulk to offensive linemen, he has the strength to get a good push off blocks, redirect and string plays out. He is relentless in pursuit and does a nice job of staying low in his pads to deliver crunching tackles on the move. Demarcus is instinctive and plays with good field vision. Ware shows nice flexibility to leverage at the point of attack and has the lateral slide to avoid blocks on the move. He is a solid wrap-up tackler who can punish runners with his hitting ability. He shows good hand usage and extension to stave off the blockers trying to get into his chest, but if they lock on, he can be neutralized. He will then try to overcompensate, taking wrong angles to the ball or fail to control his momentum by getting too far upfield to make the play. Ware has a very strong hand punch and good arm extension. He is strong at the point and knows how to squeeze and leverage blockers. He has raw pass rush technique and needs to develop better counter moves, as he relies mostly on his sudden burst to make plays in the backfield. He lacks polish in his backpedal and is not experienced in dropping back while in man coverage. Demarcus knows how to use his hands to reroute tight ends and backs in the short area, but will bite on play action and eyes the quarterback too long when having to play in zone coverage. He is better suited playing in space and on the move. He will make a lot of his plays coming from the backside, but when he gets too high in his stance, he will struggle to disengage trying to shoot the inside gaps. He looks more like a Jason Taylor clone, as he is best working off the edge. Some liken him to Baltimore's Terrell Suggs, but from film review, I do not think that he has the pass coverage ability to drop back and handle zone assignments (best when making tackles in front of him). Still, his explosion and desire to make the play will make this guy one that will have to be accounted for on the field. He will need to add bulk in order to remain a down lineman, but his frame may be at maximum growth potential. If he moves to linebacker, he is better suited to operate as a weak-side rush linebacker in a 3-4 alignment in order to get value from him immediately.

south carolina...collected three tackles with a pressure and a 7-yard sack...notable plays

First Quarter--Sacked QB Syvelle Newton for a 7-yard loss on a first-and-10 play from the SC 40 (2

59) and five plays later, he pressured cox at the troy 47 into throwing a pass that was picked off by leodis mckelvin, who returned the ball 71 yards for a touchdown (0

47)... Third Quarter--On a third-and-10 from the USU 25, he sacked Cox for an 11-yard loss (14

23) and later in that drive, he caused a fumble when he stripped the ball from alley broussard that was recovered by linebacker laverne johnson, setting up a 4-yard scoring toss from troy's d.t. mcdowell to james earl cray (5

39).

fourth quarter--stopped qb buck pierce for a 2-yard loss on a third-and-4 draw play from the troy 44 (1

45).

05) during a 73-yard, 3-play scoring drive...second quarter--tackled a.j. harris for a 1-yard loss on a second-and-8 rushing attempt from the troy 12 (11

24).

55), he sacked qb stan hill for a 9-yard loss on a third-and-goal play from the mu 22, causing a fumble that marshall recovered...second quarter--tackled tailback earl charles for a 1-yard loss and two plays later (first-and-10, mu 47, 11

42), he sacked Hill for an 8-yard loss (Griifin called for holding Ware, but the penalty was declined)...Third Quarter--Sacked Hill for minus-8 yards on a second-and-15 play from the MU 15 (7

assisted linebacker arthur adams in bringing down lee baker for a 2-yard loss on a third-and-1 run from the mtsu 29 (7

03).

44).

New Mexico State...Added four solo tackles, including one for a 2-yard loss...Notable Plays

louisiana state...facing another imposing task in 330-pound offensive tackle andrew whitworth, demarcus was in on 4 tackles (3 solos) with two stops behind the line of scrimmage, a forced fumble and four pressures...notable plays

Second Quarter--Penalized three yards for jumping offside on a first_7-goal play from the Troy 5 (14

kansas state...sacked qb ell roberson for a 4-yard loss, causing a fumble and posted six solo tackles.

Minnesota...Made 9 tackles (5 solos) with a stop behind the line of scrimmage and caused a fumble.

idaho...had two assisted tackles and two pressures...notable plays

None.

louisiana-lafayette...took on 315-pound offensive tackle brandon cox and posted 4 tackles (3 solos) with five pressures and a 5-yard sack...notable plays

Fourth Quarter--Sacked QB Jerry Babb for minus-5 yards on a second-and-9 play from the ULL 41 (3

nebraska...came off the bench to post five tackles.

Alabama-Birmingham...In his first career start, he responded with a season-high 13 tackles (8 solos) as he sacked QB Darrell Hackney for minus-15 yards, made three stops behind the line of scrimmage with a pressure and recovered a fumble.

51) on a 9-play, 22-yard drive.

Utah State...Registered 4 tackles (3 solos), three pressures and three sacks for minus-22 yards...Notable Plays

florida a&m...posted 6 tackles (5 solos) as he sacked qb reggie hayes twice and qb casey printers once for a total of minus-14 yards, had four stops behind the line of scrimmage and three pressures.

Utah State...Closed out the season with 7 tackles (5 solos) and three sacks of QB Jose Fuentes for losses of 15 yards.

nicholls state...made two tackles and his first career sack, good for a 1-yard loss.

Cal State Northridge...Sacked QB Marcus Brady for minus-11 yards.

missouri...credited with an 8-tackle (4 solos) performance.

Mississippi State...Registered three pressures and 7 tackles (5 solos).

marshall...lining up against 344-pound offensive tackle nate griffin, demarcus totaled 11 tackles (8 solos) with three sacks for minus-25 yards, 4.5 stops for losses of 29 yards, a pair of forced fumbles and two pressures...notable plays

First Quarter--On the game's first series (14

note...time listed inside brackets (x

xx) indicates start of the offensive drive.

50).

Middle Tennessee...Held to a pair of tackles and two pressures...Notable Plays

11) and three plays later, lsu fullback joseph addai capped the 15-play, 64-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run...third quarter--stopped addai for a 2-yard loss on a first-and-10 run from the lsu 4 (11

05)...Tackled Justin Vincent for a 1-yard loss on a first-and-10 run from the Troy 35 (9

57), causing a fumble that was recovered by defensive end cedric sullivan...on a first-and-goal run from the troy 15, he tackled charles for a 3-yard loss (4

29).

southern utah...produced five tackles with a pressure and sacked qb dustin randolph for a 6-yard loss.

Iowa State...Made 5 tackles (4 solos) and three stops for losses of 15 yards, including a 9-yard sack of QB Seneca Wallace.

missouri...posted four solo tackles with a 9-yard sack, two stops for losses of 13 yards and a forced fumble matching up against offensive tackle scott paffrath...notable plays

First Quarter--Sacked QB Brad Smith for minus-9 yards on a second-and-8 play from the Troy 47 (5

55) and the trojans declined an illegal block penalty.

Arkansas State...Totaled three tackles, three pressures and an 8-yard sack...Notable Plays

15)...second quarter--again sacked smith for a 4-yard loss (4

29) on a second-and-10 from the UM 26...Third Quarter--After Bernard Davis blocked a Brock Harvey punt, Demarcus recovered the ball at the UM 30 (12

utah state...had three tackles with a 6-yard sack of qb travis cox and a pair of pressures.

Louisiana-Monroe...Blocked a punt, posted 7 tackles (6 solos), sacked QB Steven Jyles for minus-6 yards, made five stops behind the line of scrimmage with eight pressures and caused two fumbles, earning National Defensive Player of the Week honors from The NFL Draft Report.

second quarter--his third-down sack (third-and-13, troy 15, 15

00) on the first play of the second quarter dropped QB Travis Cox for a 5-yard loss and Utah State then attempted a 37-yard field goal that they missed...Sacked Cox again for minus-6 yards (2

second quarter--sacked qb nick noce for minus-8 yards on a third-and-11 play from the asu 32 (15

00).

north texas...collected 8 tackles (4 solos) with two stops for minus-8 yards, a fumble recovery and a pressure.

Middle Tennessee...Delivered six hits, caused a fumble and had a pressure.

northern illinois (silicon valley classic)...playing in the first bowl game in school history, he closed out his career with six solo tackles, two pressures and a stop behind the line of scrimmaqe...notable plays

First Quarter--Stopped Garrett Wolfe for no gain at the NIU 27 on a first-and-10 run (6

nebraska...credited with a 6-tackle (4 solos) performance.

Florida International...Registered 5 tackles (3 solos) with eight pressures and three stops for minus-19 yards...Twice sacked QB Josh Padrick for losses totaling 18 yards.

florida atlantic...made six tackles with an assisted sack, two stops for minus-12 yards and four pressures...notable plays

First Quarter--Teamed with linebacker Laverne Johnson to stop Doug Parker for a 2-yard loss on a first-and-10 run from the FAU 13 (11

56)...fourth quarter--with an assist from johnson, demarcus sacked qb danny embick for an 11-yard loss on a third-and-14 play from the fau 42 (1

26).

alabama-birmingham...credited with six pressures.

Southeastern Louisiana...Sacked QB Martin Hankins for a 6-yard loss, causing a fumble that Demarcus recovered and was in on two tackles with four pressures.

No injuries reported.

4.51 in the 40-yard dash (wind-aided)

4.56 in the 40-yard dash (normal conditions)

430-pound bench press

Bench presses 225 pounds 23 times

570-pound squat

360-pound power clean

4.27 20-yard shuttle

7.08 three-cone drill

38.5-inch vertical jump

10'7" broad jump

34-inch arm length

10-inch hands

Right-handed

16/24 Wonderlic score.

Attended Auburn (Ala.) High School, playing football for coach Clay McCall

Played two on the gridiron, earning All-Area honors as a senior when he had 55 tackles (40 solos)and seven sacks

Earned Most Valuable Linebacker, Wide Receiver and leadership honors from the team

Also participated in basketball, baseball and track.