2012 Inductee
DeMARCUS WARE One of the best defensive players to ever play at Troy University, DeMarcus Ware has turned his success on the college gridiron into a wildly successful professional career. Ware was instrumental in Troy’s transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2001 and finished his Trojan career tied with Al Lucas as the program’s all-time leader in tackles for loss with 55.5. He finished his career with 27 sacks for a loss of 198 yards to rank among the all-time greats in Troy history. Ware became a starter in 2002, and quickly made an impact in the trenches by finishing fifth on the team with 72 tackles. Along with the former Troy and current New York Giant defensive end Osi Umenyiora, the duo combined to record 25 sacks and 40 tackles for a loss. In his sophomore campaign, Ware finished tied for 15th in the country with nine sacks, while his 19.5 tackles for a loss were tied for ninth in the nation. In 2002, Troy State’s defense finished fourth in the country in total defense as the Trojans’ allowed 276.8 yards per game. In 2003, Ware secured a selection to the NCAA Division I-A All-Independent Team by making 62 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, and six sacks. As a junior, Ware led the Trojans with 32 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. “He (Ware) was one of those guys that did everything right, A member of the Sun Belt Conference All-Decade Team, he went to class, he worked hard in the weight room ... Ware was a finalist for the 2004 Hendricks Award which is DeMarcus was the perfect example of a student-athlete presented annually to the nation’s top defensive end. coming to Troy, and doing everything with a purpose.” “He was one of those guys that did everything right, he went to class, he worked hard in the weight room, and did everything right,” Troy football head coach Larry Blakeney said of Ware. “He - Larry Blakeney Troy University football head coach was able to develop from a guy who was basically a skill guy coming out of high school and turned himself into a very fast and ferocious player on the field.” Ware was named the 2004 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and helped lead the Trojans to their first-ever bowl game with an appearance in the Silicon Valley Football Classic. That season, Ware made 53 tackles, 19 for a loss, and his 10.5 sacks led the Sun Belt Conference. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft and was the first-ever first round pick from Troy or the Sun Belt. One of the best 3-4 outside linebackers in the NFL according to the Sporting News, Ware was the 2008 NFC Defensive Player of the Year and has earned first team All-Pro honors four times in his career. He also has been named to the Pro Bowl six times. A seven-year NFL veteran, Ware has totaled 480 tackles and has recorded 99.5 sacks. Ware has ranked in the top five in sacks for four of last five seasons. He led the NFL in sacks in 2008 and 2010. Blakeney believes that Ware’s development as a player is an example of hard work paying off. “Everyone should know that if you have a measure of ability and you’re willing to work hard, that everyone has a chance,” Blakeney said. “DeMarcus was the perfect example of a student-athlete coming to Troy, and doing everything with a purpose.” A native of Auburn, Ala., Ware only played two seasons of football at Auburn High School before attending Troy. Ware graduated with a degree in business information systems; becoming the first member of his family to graduate with a college degree. Ware and his wife Taniqua reside in Dallas and have two children, Marley and DeMarcus, Jr.
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