April 17, 2000

LAS VEGAS - After not being selected in Sunday's final day of the NFL draft, former UNLV wide receiver Len Ware did not have to wait long to find out where he was going to try to play football this fall. The school's second-leading receiver in history immediately signed a free-agent contract with defending AFC champion Tennessee.

"I signed about five minutes after the draft ended," Ware said. "The Titans told me that they were going to draft me in the seventh round but didn't. I would rather have been drafted by them, but it is still the best place for me."

Ware, a 6-1, 195-pound native of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was a four-year letterman for the Rebels and left with 261 receptions and finished fifth all-time at the school with 2,322 yards.

"Tennessee did not draft a receiver and they keep six on their roster and one on the practice squad, so I basically have to beat out one guy to make the team," Ware, who will also vie for kick return duties, said.

A converted defensive back from high school, Ware had his best season in 1997 when he grabbed 49 balls for 818 yards and six touchdowns. Known for his long scores, Ware had four career touchdowns longer than 75 yards, including a 97-yard kickoff return last fall. Having caught at least one pass in 39 of his 42 career games, Ware tied for first at UNLV with eight 100-yard games during his career. He also finished seventh in career all-purpose yardage with 3,252.

LEN WARECAREER UNLV STATISTICS
RECEIVINGYEAR    REC YDS AVG TD  LG1999    31  376 12.1    0   481998    39  500 12.8    2   77(TD)1997    49  818 16.7    6   82(TD)1996    42  628 15.0    8   82(TD)TOTAL   161 2,322   14.4    16  82(TD)
KICKOFF RETURNSYEAR    NO  YDS AVG TD  LG1999    7   246 35.1    1   97(TD)1998    7   133 19.0    0   381997    4   97  24.3    0   341996    19  422 22.2    0   53TOTAL37  898 24.3    1   97(TD)