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49ers’ Tank Carradine ready for ‘rookie’ season

By WTOP Staff

ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Running back Marcus Lattimore might be the most publicized second-year player for the San Francisco 49ers who sat out as a rookie because of a knee injury. Another player from that class — and an even higher draft pick — rehabbing with Lattimore last season is poised to make an even bigger mark.

Tank Carradine missed all of last year recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee suffered at the end of the 2012 season with Florida State. There were times, Carradine said, he questioned whether he could ever play at the level that made him the 40th overall draft pick again.

The 6-foot-4, 273-pound defensive lineman leaned on Lattimore every morning he walked into the training room.

“We talked about it all the time,” Carradine said Wednesday, the second day of San Francisco’s three-day mandatory minicamp. “Every day we asked each other how we feel and then we just kind of made it like a joke when we see each other. He ask me how I feel, I ask him how he feels and everything. But we talked about it and always said, ‘We couldn’t wait for the opportunity.'”

Healthy again, that chance has finally arrived.

Carradine is getting extra repetitions in practice this week because veteran defensive tackle Justin Smith is out with an unspecified injury. Coach Jim Harbaugh said Smith is expected back for the start of training camp next month.

The 49ers initially thought Carradine could contribute late last season when they drafted him as a defensive end in Florida State’s 4-3 scheme. General manager Trent Baalke said he loved the versatility Carradine could bring to San Francisco’s 3-4 defense playing in several spots in various packages.

Instead, coaches felt Carradine could not get the force he needed from his knee in practice and shut him down in November. That’s when Carradine’s concerns began to mount.

“I was worried last year because I didn’t feel like myself,” he said. “I felt like my knee was strong, but I didn’t feel like myself. I didn’t really know if I was ever going to be the same again. I also heard stories of guys who tear knees, they come back and they’re just not the same.”

Carradine said an MRI exam at the end of the year revealed a buildup of scar tissue, and in January he had a procedure to clean it out. He said he felt the difference almost immediately.

“I felt like I was 100 percent,” he said. “I was able to get full range of motion on my knee, I was able to bend it and then also got my strength back on my leg. Now I feel like I’m back to normal again.”

Carradine is expected to take over the role most figured he’d have last year: as a backup to Smith and Ray McDonald on the outside of the line. He will also compete against more experienced players such as Demarcus Dobbs and Tony Jerod-Eddie.

While Carradine said sitting out last year gave him an opportunity to learn assignments and technique, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Carradine still has a lot of catching up to do on the field.

“He’s basically not much different than a rookie coming in right now,” Fangio said. “So this is his first shot.”

At the very least, Carradine’s injury has given him a new perspective — one that he will carry with him on the field every down.

“I learned that you never know when it’s your last play,” Carradine said. “You can go out there and everything can be going good and you can be having an amazing season and things like that and then all of the sudden you have a knee injury and it’s out. I just learned to take advantage of every opportunity.”

___

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Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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