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Soliai, Jackson bring ‘girth’ to defensive line

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — The new wide bodies on the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive line are difficult to overlook.

After Atlanta finished next to last in the NFL in run defense last season, some substantial bulk was added to the defensive line. Among the newcomers are two veterans expected to start — defensive tackle Paul Soliai (6-foot-4, 345) and defensive end Tyson Jackson (6-4, 296).

The big additions were on display at Friday Night Lights before a crowd of 12,316 at Archer High School.

Secondary coach Tim Lewis said Friday he can’t help but notice the added size on the defensive front.

“What stands out to me is how big we are up front,” Lewis said. “Our defensive line is a lot bigger. When I’m standing 40 yards back and watching I’m going, ‘Whew!'”

Lewis believes the big guys will cut down on his defensive backs having to make stops on running plays up the middle.

“The girth of the defensive line is a lot different, to see how wide they are,” Lewis said. “Runs don’t typically come screaming right at the safety. So that’s a nice thing.”

More size came in the draft with second-round pick Ra’Shede Hageman (6-6, 318), a defensive end from Minnesota.

The newcomers gained added importance when former starting defensive tackle Peria Jerry retired Thursday.

Defensive line coach Brian Cox laughed when told his linemen were hot topics among other assistants. He said general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith made good on their commitment to add size to the line.

“It’s a true testament to Thomas and coach Smith just trying to go out and get some talent, to upgrade some talent at some positions,” Cox said. “And now it makes us a much deeper team. It makes us a much bigger team. It makes us a much stronger team.”

Soliai is expected to start in the middle of the line when the Falcons use a 3-4 scheme. Jonathan Babineaux, a returning starter, and Jackson could be the first-team ends on a three-man front.

More help will come when Corey Peters (6-3, 305) completes his recovery from Achilles surgery. He had a career-high five sacks before the injury late last year and hopes to be ready for the start of the season.

The second half of the Friday Night Lights schedule was a scrimmage with full tackling. The offense won 15-5. The scrimmage ended with Tramaine Thompson’s touchdown catch.

Smith said the annual Friday Night Lights, held at different high schools, is “one of my favorite events.” He said the scrimmage before fans was a warm-up for the team’s preseason opener against Miami in one week.

“I really wanted to expose our young players to what it’s going to be like in terms of the intensity,” Smith said. “They’re going to see a little more intensity than they faced tonight, but I think they got a little taste of what it’s going to be like in the Georgia Dome.”

NOTES: The team signed DT Theo Agnew (6-4, 280) of Georgia State. Agnew participated in Atlanta’s rookie minicamp as a tryout player following the draft. He began his college career at Massachusetts before transferring to Georgia State. … S Dwight Lowery left with a head injury that is not believed to be serious. … WR Julio Jones was on the field but not in pads as he continues to have his practice time monitored in training camp during his recovery from foot surgery. … RB Steven Jackson continues to be held out with a right hamstring injury.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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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