Skip to main content

QB questions abound in SEC with big stars gone

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Quarterback battles and signal-caller questions abound in the Southeastern Conference going into preseason camps around the league.

Big names, not so much.

Division favorites Alabama and South Carolina will be banking on new starters. Ditto for Texas A&M, Georgia and defending East Division champion Missouri.

So long, Johnny Manziel, Aaron Murray and AJ McCarron et al. Hello, little-known new guys.

The biggest name returning at quarterback is Auburn’s Nick Marshall, himself an unproven commodity this time last year. The biggest stars are gone, but Georgia coach Mark Richt says that doesn’t necessarily signal a big drop-off.

“Some guys are going to have a chance to make a name for themselves,” Richt said. “How many seasons start out where you must don’t know what a guy’s going to do? Even (Florida State’s) Jameis Winston, Johnny Football, their first year of starting, all of a sudden they win the Heisman. So anything can happen with a guy who gets his opportunity. I wouldn’t count out the quarterbacks in this league to play great.”

First, some of those candidates for greatness must win the starting job. Others have already risen to No. 1 after biding their time.

South Carolina and Georgia have fifth-year seniors finally getting their shots.

The Gamecocks’ Dylan Thompson supplied a few big highlights during his time as Connor Shaw’s backup. Georgia’s Hutson Mason started a win over Georgia Tech and then put up big numbers in a loss to Nebraska in the Gator Bowl after Murray’s season-ending knee injury.

Missouri sophomore Maty Mauk started four games in place of an injured James Franklin last season, throwing 11 touchdown passes against two interceptions.

“When you’re playing in the SEC, you have to be ready,” he said. “You’ve got to have two or three quarterbacks ready, and I was ready. Maybe I wasn’t mentally fully up with it. I knew this was my opportunity and I took it. They put me in great situations.”

Now, he’s in another good one as Franklin’s heir.

The most experienced returning quarterback is Mississippi’s Bo Wallace, whose 6,340 career passing yards trails only Eli Manning at the school.

Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, Arkansas’ Brandon Allen and Florida’s Jeff Driskel are also back. Driskel, who’s 12-3 as a starter, missed most of last season with a broken leg.

Other teams’ quarterback competitions are carrying into August, and several could include freshman contenders:

— Alabama appears to have a two-man race to replace McCarron, the 2013 Heisman Trophy runner-up. Blake Sims was shaky in the spring game and Florida State transfer Jacob Coker is the presumed front-runner. But Coker, Winston’s former backup, will have to play catch-up since he didn’t report to Tuscaloosa until the summer after graduating.

“Those two are just two different type of quarterback,” Crimson Tide receiver Christion Jones said. “Alabama’s probably never seen those two, no matter who’s the starting quarterback between them. There’s no comparison to any other quarterback.”

— Texas A&M also should have no shortage of playmakers but scant experience at quarterback. Sophomore Kenny Hill and freshman Kyle Allen, who went through spring practice, are vying to replace Manziel, the 2012 Heisman winner.

Kyle Allen was one of the Aggies’ prized recruits, but few matched the razzle-dazzle of Manziel as a scrambler and runner.

Left tackle Cedric Ogbuehi insists the basic formula doesn’t change.

“Same offense. Same plays,” Ogbuehi said. “Pass the ball. Run the ball. It’s all the same.”

— LSU freshman Brandon Harris, also a January enrollee, and sophomore Anthony Jennings are competing to replace Zach Mettenberger.

Harris accounted for three passing touchdowns and one rushing score in the spring game.

“It will be a very competitive event from the start to the finish,” LSU coach Les Miles said.

— New Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason will likely choose between Patton Robinette, redshirt freshman Johnny McCrary and LSU transfer Stephen Rivers. Mason said he’s not ruling out three other potential candidates.

— Patrick Towles and Maxwell Smith are vying to claim the job at Kentucky, where last year’s primary starter Jalen Whitlow transferred. Plus, highly recruited freshman Drew Barker and Reese Phillips are waiting in the wings.

— Tennessee’s Justin Worley, Joshua Dobbs and Nathan Peterman are vying to lead an offense that ranked 13th in the league in passing. All three started at least one game in 2013.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote