Ware, Simon, Wing declare for the NFL Draft

BATON ROUGE - LSU running back Spencer Ware, punter Brad Wing and cornerback Tharold Simon have opted to forgo their remaining college eligibility and enter the NFL Draft, head coach Les Miles confirmed on Friday.

Ware and Simon were both true juniors, while Wing was a redshirt sophomore making him eligible for the NFL Draft in April. Ware, Wing and Simon join linebacker Kevin Minter and safety Eric Reid as LSU's early NFL Draft entries.

"I feel confident that I'm ready to go to the NFL," Ware said. "I want to thank Coach Miles and his staff for helping me develop on the field and mature as both a player and person. I've made lifelong friends at LSU and I am extremely grateful that I had an opportunity to attend such an outstanding university."

Ware was one of the few players in LSU history to rush for a TD, catch a TD pass and throw a touchdown pass during his career. Ware finished with 1,249 rushing yards and 10 TDs to go along with 39 receptions for 404 yards and a pair of scores. He threw a 39-yard TD pass to Rueben Randle against Auburn in 2010.

Wing departs LSU after two seasons as the starting punter. In two years, Wing punted 118 times with a 44.6 average, which ranks as the highest average in school history for a player with at least 100 punts. Wing, who earned first-team All-America honors as a freshman and second-team honors as a sophomore, had 39 punts of 50-yards or more during his career with another 48 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

"I want to thank the fans, my coaches and my teammates for three amazing years at LSU," Wing said.

Simon was a two-year starter at cornerback for the Tigers where he recorded 96 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 22 pass breakups and intercepted seven passes. In 2012, Simon led the Tigers in pass breakups with nine and interceptions with four.

"It is with mixed emotions and serious consideration with my family that I have decided to enter the 2013 NFL Draft," Simon said on Friday. "I have loved every minute of being a LSU Tiger, and my heart will always remain at this incredible institution that taught me so much about being an athlete, student and person. I truly hope that I will be lucky enough to make an NFL roster and do LSU proud.

"I am profoundly grateful for the teammates, coaches, academic advisors and the entire staff at the LSU and in particular Coach Miles who have prepared me for this exciting opportunity."