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Mississippi St working to expand offense

By WTOP Staff

DAVID BRANDT
AP Sports Writer

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State is expecting quarterback Dak Prescott to have an all-Southeastern Conference caliber season in his first full year as the starter.

Judging from his performance last year, that’s certainly possible. But he’s going to need some help.

That’s where guys like Josh Robinson, Jameon Lewis and Jamaal Clayborn become very important. Robinson moves into the starting running back role after backing up LaDarius Perkins last season while Lewis returns after leading the team with 64 catches for 923 yards.

Clayborn is one of two new starting offensive linemen. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound sophomore is a prime example of coach Dan Mullen’s ability to take lightly recruited players and turn them into quick contributors.

Prescott said the Bulldogs take pride in their low-profile identity.

“That’s just who we are, we’re a blue-collar team that works hard and doesn’t really care about the labels we’re given,” Prescott said Saturday at the team’s media day. “We’re not a bunch of five-star guys. We’re just hard workers who are going to get better and make sure others get better.”

Prescott’s huge role on the team is hard to overstate. He threw for 1,940 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while also running for a team-high 829 yards and 13 touchdowns. If he’s not healthy, the Bulldogs’ offense suddenly looks a lot different.

That’s why Clayborn is so vital. He’s listed as the new starter at left guard, replacing Gabe Jackson, who was taken in the third round by the Oakland Raiders in the NFL draft.

Mississippi State co-offensive coordinator John Hevesy said players like Clayborn, who was a two-star recruit, and starting right guard Ben Beckwith, who is a former walk-on, have the right attitude even if they lacked the perfect measurable coming out of high school.

“Everyone loves Saturday afternoon in the SEC because there’s not a person who wouldn’t,” Hevesy said. “But how many love Feb. 23rd at 5 a.m. (in the weight room)? That’s when you find out the guys that want to be great.”

Prescott says he expects to have plenty of protection and playmakers around him to get the job done.

Robinson moves into a starting role after rushing for 459 yards and three touchdowns while averaging nearly six yards per carry last season. The barrel-chested 5-foot-9, 215-pounder says he bench presses about 380 pounds and is adamant an increased workload won’t decrease his efficiency.

“I only know one speed and that’s fast,” Robinson said. “It doesn’t change anything. I’ve got to be who I am every day and find ways to get better.”

Mississippi State also has senior running back Nick Griffin, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career but could help Robinson carry the load. Ashton Shumpert and Brandon Holloway are also listed as possibilities on the depth chart.

“Every year it’s a committee for us,” Mullen said. “Josh had a lot of yards rushing last year. Usually one guy steps out a little bit ahead of everybody else.”

The Bulldogs return plenty of experience at receiver. Mullen hopes that will help the offense develop a consistent deep passing threat that’s sometimes been lacking in previous seasons.

Lewis was the most productive last season, but it’s 6-foot-5 sophomore De’Runnya Wilson who might be the most intriguing prospect. He caught 26 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman in only his second season of organized football.

Wilson was an accomplished basketball player in high school and even played some for the Bulldogs last winter. Now he’s decided to just concentrate on football and his athletic ability on long passing plays could prove vital.

“The key is when you have those opportunities, you take advantage of it,” Mullen said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to do that. We have different guys who bring different things to the table.”

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Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP

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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