DenzilWare

2017 – Junior

Phil Steele All-SEC Third Team
Saw action in 12 of 13 games with six starting assignments
Totaled 47 tackles, seventh on the team
Second on the team in tackles for loss (9.0) and third in sacks (6.5)
Ranked 12th in the SEC in sacks
Recorded a sack in six games this season, including three of his last five
Had two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries
Caught a pass batted by junior DT Adrian Middleton for the first interception of his career in the win over Vanderbilt … Also notched two of UK’s five quarterback sacks, tying his career high
Named Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week for his play against the Commodores
Recorded a career-high tying nine tackles with one sack and two tackles for loss in the win over Tennessee … His 10-yard sack was on Tennessee’s final possession as UK held on to win
Charted a season-high seven tackles, including a TFL for four yards vs. Florida
Named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week in Week 1 after finishing with two tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries vs. Southern Miss
Late in the third quarter, Darius West made a jolting tackle that caused a fumble, which Ware scooped and scored from 20 yards out
Marked his first collegiate touchdown but his second collegiate score … Also had a fumble return for a 2-point defensive PAT at South Carolina in 2015
Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Third Team
Preseason All-SEC Second Team (Media)
Preseason All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)

2016 – Sophomore

Has started in 24 of 25 career games played, including 19 consecutive
For his career, has 109 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks
Had 70 tackles in 2016 (fourth on the team) and five QB hurries (second on the team)
Ranked second on the team with 5.5 total sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss
Recorded a career-high tying nine tackles in the bowl game … Also had nine at Tennessee
Tallied seven tackles with one TFL in the win over No. 11 Louisville
Also had seven tackles in wins over Mississippi State and Austin Peay
Had six tackles, including a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in UK’s win over Vanderbilt
Named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week after totaling a season-high five tackles, two sacks and two TFLs in the win over South Carolina
The two sacks vs. USC are the most sacks by a UK player against an SEC opponent since Ridge Wilson against South Carolina in 2011
With South Carolina in UK territory, threatening to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, Ware sacked the quarterback for a 19-yard loss on fourth down; it turned out to be USC’s final offensive play of the game

2015 – r-Freshman

Played in all 12 games with 11 starts at the outside linebacker/defensive end position
Ranked seventh on the team with 39 tackles, adding 5.5 tackles for a loss and one sackHad two quarterback hurries, and recovered and forced a fumble
With South Carolina threatening to tie in the fourth quarter, he picked up a fumble and raced the length of the field for a defensive two-point conversion, the final points of UK’s 26-22 win
Had seven tackles in the season opener vs. UL Lafayette
Forced a fumble vs. Florida
Recorded first career sack in UK’s win over No. 23 Missouri

2014 – Freshman

High School

A four-star prospect by 247Sports.com, Scout and ESPN and a three-star recruit by Rivals
Scout ranked him the No. 26 defensive end in the nation, while ESPN ranked him No. 113 in its ESPN Top 300 list and the 20th-best prospect in Florida and the 12th-best defensive end in the nation
Class 7A third-team all-state as a senior
Accumulated 56 tackles, 12 quarterback sacks and three caused fumbles
Was a first-team all-state selection as a junior and second-team all-state as a sophomore
Selected to play in the 2014 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl
Three-year starter
Coached by Tim Hatten
Played power forward and center on the basketball team
Selected to the school’s Minority Council
Chose Kentucky over Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Texas, USC and Vanderbilt

Personal

Born in Enterprise, Ala.
Son of Keena Ware
Has a son, Denzil Ware Jr.
Set to graduate in May with a degree in community and leadership development
Participated in a one-week service/educational trip to the Dominican Republic in May of 2017 where he interacted with residents of impoverished communities, visited an orphanage, constructed park benches in a sugar cane village, distributed food to the hungry, visited a nursing home and a daycare for special needs children

Community Cats

Participated in a one-week service/educational trip to the Dominican Republic in May of 2017 where he interacted with residents of impoverished communities, visited an orphanage, constructed park benches in a sugar cane village, distributed food to the hungry, visited a nursing home and a daycare for special needs children
Stayed after practice to spend time with the Special Olympics (2015)
“Breakfast with Santa” volunteer (2015)
Indian Summer Camp visitor (2015)

Denzil Says

His nickname is “Zel”
His pregame routine consists of mom texting a prayer and him reading it before the team leaves the hotel
His advice to young players is to stay in the books and make your grades
His favorite part of game day is coming out of the tunnel with all the smoke and fireworks
Most people don’t know that he loves shoes