Jets claim a RB ( Danny Ware)

The Jets claimed former Georgia running back Danny Ware on waivers from the Tennessee Titans.

Ware had a good freshman year for the Bulldogs, but then didn't do much as a sophomore and junior. He left school early to enter the draft, and wasn't drafted, and signed with the Titans. Ware had a lot of trouble staying healthy in college suffering lung, knee, ankle and hand injuries during his time in Athens. He has good size (6-1, 225 pounds) and runs well between the tackles.


Prospect Profiles

Danny Ware
Height: 6-0
Weight: 225 Position: Running Back/Fullback
College: Georgia


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OVERVIEW
Ware's Georgia career began with such great progress, but injuries during his first season and losing his starting job to Kregg Lumpkin as a junior made the big runner decide to leave the university early to tests his wares at the pro level. Strictly a north-south runner, Ware might have been better suited to follow the route of former Tiger Brandon Jacobs (Giants) in stepping down to a lower level of competition to re-establish himself before trying for the NFL.

Ware was a 2002 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top 50 in Georgia, Class AA all-state honorable mention, Prep Star all-region and Rome News Tribune first-team all-area selection at Rockmart High School, where he lettered three times in football. The team captain and two-year MVP choice, he rushed for 1,009 yards and compiled 35 tackles and one interception on defense as a senior. He also amassed 1,003 yards punting (33.4 avg.) with a long of 60 yards.

Upon graduation, Ware attended Hargrave Military Academy to improve his academics before enrolling at Georgia. He signed up with the Bulldogs in January, competing in 2004 spring drills. He went on to start eight of 10 games, earning Freshman All-Southeastern Conference honors, but was hampered by lung, hand, knee and ankle problems that limited his playing time most of the season. He also became the first freshman running back to start a season opener since 1943.

Ware still finished second on the team with 692 yards and four touchdowns on 138 carries (5.0 avg.). He added 55 yards on seven receptions (7.9 avg.). In 2005, he started just two of 13 games, as the Bulldogs used a "running back by committee" approach. He again ranked second on the team with 101 attempts for 492 yards (4.9 avg.) and one touchdown. He caught seven passes for 118 yards (16.9 avg.) and two scores, adding six yards on a kickoff return.

In 2006, Ware was relegated to reserve duty, appearing in 12 games. He was bothered by right knee and ankle woes, rushing just 81 times for 326 yards (4.0 avg.) and three touchdowns. He had 14 receptions for 184 yards (13.1 avg.) and gained 30 yards on a pair of kickoff returns.

In 35 games at Georgia, Ware started 10 times. He carried 320 times for 1,510 yards (4.7 avg.) and eight touchdowns. He caught 28 passes for 357 yards (12.8 avg.) and two scores. He also had three kickoff returns for 36 yards (12.0 avg.).


ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a thick frame with solid chest and arm muscles, good shoulder width, tight waist and thick thighs and calves ? Because of marginal hip wiggle and outside speed, Ware might be better suited to bulk up and compete as a fullback at the next level ? Shows decent anticipation for the gaps, keeping his balance as he slips through the line to break tackles ? Strong inside runner with the leg drive and stiff-arm techniques to punish defenders ? Adequate receiver who is mostly used on screens and dump-offs ? More of a downhill runner, but shows adequate short-area acceleration to get past the line of scrimmage ? Has the lower-body strength to compensate for a lack of wiggle through the holes ? Uses his strong upper frame and arm power to protect the ball (only two fumbles in the last two years) ? Runs with good body lean and does an effective job when asked to face up to the bigger defenders when asked to block ? Takes good angles as an upfield blocker ? Patient waiting for blocks to develop and, while he lacks suddenness, he has enough lateral agility to get to the cut back lanes ? Stays low in his pads and is tough to bring down, getting good yardage after initial contact ? When he runs at the proper pad level, he shows the vision to anticipate openings ? Does a nice job of feeling his way through the pile, breaking tackles thanks to his balance ? Maintains concentration looking the ball in as a receiver and uses his frame to shield defenders from the ball.

Negatives: One-speed rusher who lacks the wiggle to elude and the explosion needed to get into the second level ? Lines up too tight to the line (does this in order to reach the hole), and is not always quick to spot the rush lanes ? Lacks the sudden burst needed to bounce towards the edge ? Does not have the second gear most feature backs have to run away from the defense ? Knows his assignments, but looks lethargic when attacking the cutback lanes (will find them, but just seems to go through the motions changing direction) ? Has had a long list of nagging injuries, making one question his ability or desire to play with pain ? Generally stays low in his pads, but when he gets too high, he fails to demonstrate any power needed to break tackles (too inconsistent with his desire to punish the opponent).

Compares To: Shawn Bryson, Detroit -- Sorry folks, we are not going to get another "feel good" Terrell Davis/Olandis Gary late-round Georgia Bulldog who goes on to All-Pro status in the NFL here ? Ware might not even be on par with another former Bulldog, Patrick Pass ? To say he is not ready for prime time is an understatement ? Going the Brandon Jacobs route by transferring to a I-AA school would have been the smart thing to do ? But, with his decision to leave college and then decide not to work out at the Combine, some really have to question whether he knows what is best for him.


INJURY REPORT
2004: Missed the Marshall game after he was helped off the field with a lung bruise that saw him coughing up blood and having a hard time breathing vs. South Carolina ? Sat out the Auburn game with a knee sprain and hand contusion ? Also bothered late in the year by an ankle sprain.

2006: Limited in practice late in the year and left the Auburn game after a Tigers defender rolled on his leg, sustaining a right ankle sprain and a right knee medial collateral ligament sprain.


AGILITY TESTS
Campus: 4.61 in the 40-yard dash ? Bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times ? 35-inch vertical jump ? 10-foot-1 broad jump ? 6.96 three-cone drill.

Combine: Attended, but player chose not to participate in agility tests ? Bench pressed 225 pounds 21 times.


HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Rockmart (Ga.) High School, playing football for head coach Dan Duff ? 2002 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top 50 in Georgia, Class AA all-state honorable mention, Prep Star all-region and Rome News Tribune first-team all-area selection ? The team captain and two-year MVP choice rushed for 1,009 yards and compiled 35 tackles and one interception on defense as a senior ? Also amassed 1,003 yards punting (33.4 avg.) with a long of 60 yards.


PERSONAL
Housing major ? Born Feb. 18, 1985 ? Resides in Rockmart, Ga.