Former MSU cornerback Ware prepares for professional career with Raiders

Begins training camp Wednesday

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Former MSU cornerback Jeremy Ware wasn’t projected by many experts to be selected in the 2010 NFL Draft. But he was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round of April’s draft, and ended up being the only Spartan chosen.

After not being invited to the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, Ware caught the eyes of pro scouts at MSU’s Pro Day in March when he ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash and had a vertical leap of 37.5 inches. His Pro Day performance might have been his saving grace, as Raiders owner Al Davis is known for taking chances on speedy players.

Ware, who transferred to MSU from South Carolina prior to the 2006 season, started 16 of the 26 games he appeared in as a Spartan. In his third and final season at MSU, Ware recorded 52 tackles, broke up five passes and had one interception on his way to being voted honorable mention All-Big Ten by the conference’s coaches.

Last Wednesday, Oakland announced it had signed Ware to a four-year, $1.85 million contract, which included a $62,450 signing bonus. After Ware made his entrance into the NFL official, The State News spoke with the new Raider about his transition to the professional ranks, his future career and his time at MSU.

State News What was the feeling you had when you got the call that you had been drafted by the Oakland Raiders?

Jeremy Ware I just took a sigh of relief that it was all over. It was a stressful process.

SN You had a really good Pro Day that impressed a lot of people. Did you go into it thinking you needed to have a good day like that to turn some heads and get drafted?

JW I knew I needed to have a good performance. Every kid in America goes into Pro Day knowing they have to do their best. It’s a lot of pressure.

SN Training camp starts for you Wednesday, but what have you been doing with the team already?

JW Basically the same stuff we’re going to go over in camp, but it’s just more time consuming. Everything like the OTAs (organized team activities) and the mini-camps are pretty much what we’re going to do in camp, but it’s just more time, more meetings.

SN Oakland has one of the best cornerbacks in the league in Nnamdi Asomugha. Have you learned anything yet from him or the other veterans?

JW Yeah, I watch Nnamdi a lot. I learned a lot from him already just the time being here. I can’t wait to just be around him to learn more.

SN What kind of things have you learned already?

JW Just the techniques, how to do press coverage. Just stuff like that.

SN How do you like living in Oakland compared to East Lansing?

JW The weather is great. That’s the big difference, the weather.

SN Are there any NFL receivers you are most looking forward to lining up against?

JW All of them. Everybody. Just the chance to be on the field with some of those guys is just the opportunity of
a lifetime.

SN How do you feel your time at MSU helped you prepare for the NFL?

JW It just made me become a man. Being around different guys and going through the different things at Michigan State just helped me become a man.

SN Raiders owner Al Davis is one of the most famous personalities in the league. What have your impressions of him been so far?

JW Just win, baby.

SN Now that you’ve signed a contract, how does it feel to officially be an NFL player?

JW It feels good. It’s a dream come true, and now it’s just about taking it to another level.

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