Oliver, Ware ponder jump to NFL

ATHENS – Running back Danny Ware and cornerback Paul Oliver have joined Charles Johnson in submitting their names to the NFL’s underclassmen advisory committee.

The committee will respond with its opinion on where the two might be picked in next year’s draft if they choose to skip their senior seasons at Georgia.

“I just wanted to see what I measured up to and what they had me projected as,” Ware said. “What it would have to say for me to leave, I don’t know. I’m still here and getting ready for this bowl game, and we’ll see what happens after that.”

Georgia (8-4) plays No. 14 Virginia Tech on Dec. 30 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.

Ware has rushed 75 times for 302 yards this season, the lowest total of his career. His yardage has decreased each year since he started eight games and gained 724 yards as a true freshman.

The Bulldogs will have at least four scholarship running backs available next year and could have five if verbal commitment Caleb King, who is considered one of the nation’s top prep backs, makes an immediate impact. However, Ware said he won’t let that affect his decision.

“I think they’ll give (the three senior backs) the opportunity to go out there and finish our senior year,” he said. “If one of (the young backs) comes in and battles more than we thought, we’ll just have to suck it up and keep going.”

He won’t transfer to another school, he said.

“There’s no sense in that,” he said. “I might as well stay here and roll with my boys and go out and make plays whenever I can.”

Oliver, who has 48 tackles and three interceptions this year, said he’s “definitely” leaning toward coming back but would leave if he’s projected as a first-round pick and possibly even if he’s listed as a second- or third-rounder. His NFL profile was raised dramatically when he held Georgia Tech All-American Calvin Johnson to just two catches on Nov. 25.

“I started getting the question a lot more after the Tech game, (but) I’m always thinking about the NFL,” Oliver said. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to leave, though.”