Senior Fred Ware has been playing football since he was in second grade and has been on the varsity team at Hebron for three years. Because of his passion for the sport, he knew he wanted to continue football in college. Ware committed to Washington University in St. Louis on Jan 12. 

“I went on a visit to WashU, and I just got a feel for what it was like there,” Ware said. “I really liked the coaching and the players that I met. It kind of felt like home away from home. When I finally decided that was the college I wanted to go to, I gave the head coach a call and told him I wanted to be there.”

Last year, Ware was a linebacker, but he switched to a running back this year due to vacancies on the team. Coach Robert Vaughn attributed Ware’s hard work and adaptability to his success. 

“Fred is really one of the best kids I’ve ever met and [is] incredibly hardworking,” Vaughn said. “[He] played as a linebacker last year and hadn’t been training to be a running back, [yet, he] worked his butt off all summer long, studied film, believed in what I was coaching him and developed into an all-district running back.”

Ware also received offers from Washington and Lee, Hamilton, Amherst and Austin College. Ware said he ultimately chose WashU because it was a better fit. He plans to major in Management. 

“I thought it was a good track because I want to go to business school,” Ware said. “My dream job is to work in sports management. I want to work for a NFL or NBA team one day. I just want to stay on top of my grades and [have] some new experiences while I’m at college.”

Vaughn has known Ware since middle school and said that Ware has always been a great leader on and off the field. 

“He’s a good athlete with a smile that lights up a room,” Vaughn said. “He has that aura about him that people just gravitate toward. He went from different positions and then [transformed] into a healthy running back. Anytime you ask Fred to do something, you know it’s going to get done.”

Ware also earned the Academic All-State honors from the Texas High School Coaches Association. To be nominated, players must be in good standing with the team, be of good moral character and have an overall grade point average of 92 or above. 

“It was truly an honor,” Ware said. “I will miss the [Hebron] team. The best part of our team was the atmosphere. Hebron football is a brotherhood. We all love each other, and we all work towards one goal: winning. I just want to make sure I stay true to myself and just let life take me where it needs to be.”