Named the Big Ten's "Best Run Support Cornerback" by The Sporting News prior to the 2004 season ... Possessed NFL-type skills ... With his blend of size and speed, he was projected as a safety prospect at the next level ... Turned in one of his career's best efforts vs. Michigan's Braylon Edwards his senior year ...Has great anticipation and body control ... Excellent in man-to-man coverage ... Tremendous football instincts ... 40 career breakups -- second-most on NU's all-time list --and seven career interceptions  ... 253 career tackles

2004: Honorable mention All-Big Ten honoree (media) ... Recipient of NU's Carnig Minasian Citizenship Award ... Ranked second in Big Ten and 14th nationally in passes defended with 17 (first in Big Ten in league games only with 13) ... Led NU vs. TCU with 8 tackles (five solos) and a forced fumble ... Surpassed the 200 mark for career tackles with five hits against Arizona State ... Moved into second place on NU's career pass deflection list with his 25th all-time breakup vs. KU ... Registered eight tackles (four solos) and a breakup at Minnesota ... Equaled a season high with eight hits against Ohio State ... Five tackles and four breakups vs. Indiana ... Two tackles to go along with an interception at Wisconsin ... Three tackles, a deflection and a key interception (12-yard return) -- his second in as many games -- vs. Purdue ... Registered three tackles and three pass deflections at Penn State ... Totaled six tackles, including a 2-yard TFL, as well as two pass deflections vs. Michigan ... Held Heisman Trophy candidate Braylon Edwards to 54 receiving yards ... Seven tackles (six solos) vs. Illinois ... Six tackles, an interception and deflection at Hawaii.

2003: Recipient of NU's Marcel Price Award ... Ranked sixth in Big Ten interceptions (0.31 per game) ... Picked up his second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor for his performance against Illinois: eight tackles (seven solos), one breakup and two interceptions, including one that went 69 yards for a win-clinching touchdown ... Had one of his top career performances versus Air Force -- 17 tackles (11 solos) and a fumble recovery ... For his performance, was named the Big Ten's Co-Defensive Player of the Week ... Was a late replacement for Louis Ayeni in the starting lineup ... Had one tackle and a 22-yard interception return in the opener vs. Kansas ... Replaced Marquice Cole at corner at Duke and had three tackles ... Six tackles (four solos) vs. Miami ... Started again at corner vs. Ohio State and totaled three tackles and a pass breakup ... One assisted tackle and a pass deflection vs. Minnesota ... Seven tackles (six solos) and a pass deflection at Indiana ... Six tackles (five solos) and a pass breakup vs. Wisconsin ... Nine tackles (eight solos) and a forced fumble at Purdue ... Seven tackles and a pass breakup vs. Penn State ... Eight tackles (seven solos) vs. Michigan ... Turned in one of NU's top performances in the Motor City Bowl versus Bowling Green: eight solo tackles, a 12-yard interception return and two pass deflections ... Fourth on NU's tackle chart with 84.

2002: Started first two games and Big Ten opener (MSU) at right cornerback ... Eight tackles, including five solos and a TFL, at Air Force ... Two tackles vs. TCU ... One tackle vs. Duke ... Five tackles and a pass breakup at Navy ... Five solo hits at Michigan State ... Seven tackles (five solos) vs. Ohio State ... Four solo tackles at Minnesota ... Three tackles and a pass breakup at PSU ... Four tackles vs. Purdue ... Three tackles vs. Indiana ... One tackle at Iowa ... Two tackles vs. Illinois.

2001: Started the final seven games ... Ranked fifth on team with 55 stops, equaling fellow defensive backs Mark Roush and Raheem Covington in total tackles ... Led NU with 10 pass breakups ... In first collegiate start, responded with seven tackles (six solos) and four pass deflections against Minnesota ... Named team's Defensive Player of the Game for his effort against the Gophers ... Closed redshirt freshman season with a career-high 13 tackles and two pass deflections at Illinois ... Totaled nine tackles and three pass deflections vs. Penn State ... Two solo tackles at Purdue ... Five tackles and a pass deflection at Indiana ... Eight tackles and a forced fumble vs. Iowa ... Four tackles at Duke.

2000: Redshirted.

High School: His senior season was his first year playing organized football ... SuperPrep Top 25 in area ... Won team's Outstanding First Year Player Award and Most Improved Player Award ... Started seven games for 12-1 squad, and had five INTs ... Helped team win Maryland 4A state title by returning an interception for a 32-yard touchdown ... Also a three-time letterwinner in basketball and track ... Honor roll for four straight years ... Who's Who Among American High School Students ... Who's Who In Sports ... Recipient of 1999 Washington Redskins Incentive Award ... High school coach was Rick Houchens.

Personal: Born Marvin Rafael Ward on 8/7/82 ... Son of Mattie Ward ... Communication studies major and business institutions minor.

Ward's Career Statistics
TACKLES	       G	UA	A	Total	TFL	Yds	PD	FF	FR
2001	      11	43	12	55	0.0	0	10	1	0
2002	      12	30	19	49	1.0	1	2	0	0
2003	      13	64	20	84	0.0	0	11	1	1
2004	      12	43	22	65	2.0	3	17	1	0
TOTALS	      48	180	73	253	3.0	4	40	3	1
INT'S	       G	No.	Yds	TD	Lg	Avg/R	Avg/G
2001	      11	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0
2002	      12	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0
2003	      13	4	103	1	69	25.8	7.9
2004	      12	3	17	0	12	5.7	1.4
TOTALS	      48	7	120	1	69	17.1	2.5