Matt Ware Class: Senior Hometown: Malibu, CA High School: Loyola Height / Weight: 6-3 / 223 Position: CB Birthdate: 12/02/1982

UCLA — Matt is an outstanding athlete who saw action on both sides of the ball his first two years in the program … He possesses all of the tools to become a great player … He has great athleticism, size and speed and is a tough and intelligent player … A versatile performer, he started all 11 games at cornerback in 2001, becoming the first Bruin true freshman to start every game of a season … He made a switch to free safety during Spring Practice in 2002 … Ware started all 13 games in 2002, the final 10 at cornerback after an in-season switch back from free safety … Plays pro baseball in the Seattle Mariner organization during the summers.

2002 — Ware started all 13 games, including the first three at free safety and the last 10 at cornerback … Finished fifth on the team with 51 tackles and made one interception and one quarterback sack … He also blocked one punt and forced two fumbles … Member of the punt return, punt, field goal block, kickoff and kickoff return units on special teams during the season … Made four solo tackles and had one pass defense against Colorado State … Had an interception against Oklahoma State in the end zone to stop a Cowboy drive near the end of the first half … Missed most of the second half with a sprained ankle … Ranked second on the team with a career-high 10 tackles in the game against Colorado … Moved to cornerback for the San Diego State game … Helped limit the nation’s No. 2 passing attack to just 208 yards in the air … The Aztecs had just one pass of more than 22 yards … Ware had seven tackles in the game and one sack … Credited with three tackles at Oregon State and one pass defense … Against Oregon, he made three tackles, including one for loss, and one forced fumble … At Cal, he made one tackle and also was credited with the second of UCLA’s two fourth-quarter blocked punts … Also played one snap on offense at Cal, pitching the ball on an option play … Against Stanford, he made five tackles … Missed most of the Washington game with a tight hamstring and was credited with one tackle … At Arizona, he made two solo tackles and deflected one pass … Against USC, he made six tackles, one shy of the team lead, despite missing the second half with hamstring problems … Totaled four tackles in the Washington State game with two solos … Credited with three tackles, one forced fumble and one pass defense in the bowl game win over New Mexico.

2001 — The only true freshman in the starting lineup, Ware improved each week and was a Pac-10 honorable mention selection … He was also named first-team Freshman All-American and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News and first-team All-American by the Football Writers Assn. of America … Ware was the first UCLA true freshman to start every regular-season game since freshmen became eligible in 1972 (three-time All-America safety Kenny Easley started the final 10 games of his freshman season and Ricky Manning started the final nine) … On the year, Ware made 32 tackles, led the team with five interceptions (tied for third in the Pac-10) and was second with two fumble recoveries … His five interceptions were the most by a Bruin since Larry Atkins made six in 1997 and he ranked third (tied) in the Pac-10 with his average of 0.45 … He started all 11 games at cornerback … He also saw five plays of action on offense against Oregon and took two snaps versus USC … He made his first career interception versus Ohio State … In the win at Oregon State, he was credited with five tackles … Against Washington, matched up against Reggie Williams much of the game, he was credited with three tackles (two solos), recovered a fumble, made an interception in the end zone to halt a scoring threat and had one pass defense … In the win over California, he made two tackles (one solo), including one for loss before leaving the contest with a sprained left ankle … He was at his best in the game at Stanford, making two interceptions, recovering a fumble and making three tackles … At Washington State, he made his fifth interception of the year and also made five tackles (three solos) … Against Oregon, he made five tackles, including four solos … In addition, he saw action on offense for the first time in his collegiate career, playing a handful of snaps at quarterback and receiver … He rushed for 22 yards on four attempts, including UCLA’s long run of the day (11 yards), as an option quarterback and also made a 49-yard reception along the right sideline late in the first half … At USC, despite suffering a separated shoulder in the first half, Ware made three solo tackles and was also credited with a pass defense … He also played a couple of offensive snaps, but pitched the football … Against Arizona State, he made two first-half tackles but missed the second half after aggravating a shoulder injury … Named the winner of the John Boncheff, Jr. Memorial Award for Rookie of the Year … He signed a baseball contract with the Seattle Mariners during Fall football camp and played in their minor league organization this past summer as an outfielder.

HIGH SCHOOL — Earned three varsity letters at quarterback and free safety at Los Angeles’ Loyola High for coach Grady … USA Today first-team All-American … Parade All-American … Member of PrepStar Dream Team (No. 1 defensive back) … PrepStar All-American (No. 1 ‘athlete’ in West) … Member of SuperPrep Elite 50 (No. 8 overall) and SuperPrep All-American (No. 1 defensive back) … Rated nation’s No. 1 safety by FoxStudentSports.com … SuperPrep All-Far West/California (No. 2 prospect) … PrepStar Super 30 All-Western Region (No. 1 prospect) … Member of Rivals.com 11-man Defensive All-American team … Member of Rivals 100 (No. 7 prospect) … Rated nation’s No. 2 safety by Rivals.com … Member of Rivals.com Top 100 … Student Sports Top 100 (No. 4 prospect) … Tom Lemming All-American (No. 32 prospect) and All-West (No. 6 prospect) … Member of Lemming Super Team … Rated nation’s No. 8 prospect by cnnsi.com/SuperPrep and No. 4 defensive back … USA Today/Max Emfinger Top 125 and No. 1 free safety …Member of Dallas Morning News Top 100 … Student Sports Senior All-American … Member of Long Beach Press-Telegram’s Best in the West (eight votes) … First-team All-State (Cal-Hi Sports) … Las Vegas Sun Super 11 first team … All-CIF Southern Section first team … CIF-SS Division I Player of the Year … Named L.A. Times All-Central City Player of the Year and All-Central City as a quarterback … Selected to play in CaliFlorida All-Star game, the California/ Texas All-Star game and the National Shrine game in Texas … As a senior, Ware made 32 solo tackles, 27 assists and four interceptions to bring his career totals to 134 tackles, 88 assists and eight interceptions … Also caused six fumbles and made 17 tackles for losses during his career … On offense, he ran for 1,161 yards and 17 touchdowns and passed for over 1,000 yards and 16 more scores … Pre-season SuperPrep Top 50 … Pre-season SuperPrep All-American (No. 4 defensive back nationally and No. 3 prospect in Far West) … As a junior, he made 84 tackles, including four for losses, and one interception … On offense, he passed for 786 yards and five touchdowns, rushed for 346 yards and three touchdowns and made 11 receptions for 198 yards and three touchdowns … Also participated in track … Earned two letters for coach Wells … Had bests in the long jump (23-10), 100 meters (10.78) and 200 meters (21.9) … Helped school win the CIF-SS Division III title in 2000 in the long jump, in the 100 meters and as a member of the 4 x 100 relay team … Was a member of the baseball team and played for coach Possemato.

PERSONAL — Full Name: Matthew Jesse Ware … Born: December 2, 1982 in Santa Monica, CA … Parents: Bernard and Julie Ware … Has one brother, Aaron … Mom and dad each attended UCLA … Lists his biggest athletic thrill as playing in the CIF Division I championship game against Long Beach Poly in December of 2000 at Edison Field in Anaheim, CA … Names San Diego Charger linebacker Donnie Edwards, a former Bruin, as the athlete he admires most and patterns his style of play after … Hobbies include making illustrations and hanging out with friends … Lists Physics as his favorite class … Lists career objective as becoming a physical therapist or trainer … Undeclared major.

Varsity Statistics - M. Ware
Tackles

Career Highs
Tackles: 10 vs. Colorado, 2002