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Vols believe they’ll be more explosive this season

By WTOP Staff

STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s offense is better equipped to make the kind of splash it failed to produce last season.

The Volunteers struggled to deliver big gains – what coach Butch Jones refers to as “splash plays” – while going 5-7 last fall for its fourth straight losing season. Tennessee had only 11 plays from scrimmage that went at least 40 yards, down from 19 in 2012.

The development of sophomore wide receiver Marquez North and the arrival of a talented recruiting class offer the potential for more excitement this year.

“People might be sleeping on us now, but we’ve got some playmakers and all sorts of talent,” wide receiver Von Pearson said. “We’re going to make some plays.”

Jones emphasized the need for playmakers while putting together a recruiting class ranked among the top five in the nation by multiple services. Tennessee’s biggest win of Jones’ debut season – a 23-21victory over South Carolina – was made possible by North’s spectacular, one-handed 39-yard catch to set up the winning field goal.

But the Vols didn’t make enough of those highlight-worthy plays. Florida was the only Southeastern Conference offense with fewer gains of at least 40 yards last season. For comparison’s sake, SEC champion Auburn’s offense had 26 plays from scrimmage of 40-plus yards.

“In the world of college football, it is all about making big plays, making impactful plays,” Jones said. “How can you impact the game, whether it is a big run, whether it is a key block, whether it is turning a 5-yard reception into a 35-yard reception.”

The Vols’ top returning big-play threat is North, who had a team-high 498 yards receiving as a freshman after spending much of his high school career as a running back. Jones says North “is a completely different individual” this year because of how much he’s improved.

“I feel like I have a lot more potential to reach just because this is really going to be my second year of getting into it,” North said. “I’ve still got a lot of knowledge to gain. I’m just eager to get it.”

Tennessee also has plenty of intriguing newcomers. Running back Jalen Hurd and wide receiver Josh Malone were rated as five-star prospects by at least one recruiting service. Pearson caught 93 passes for 1,601 yards last season at Feather River (California) College.

All three benefited from participating in spring practice. In Tennessee’s spring game, Malone had six catches for 181 yards and three touchdowns. Hurd rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

“Definitely getting here early was something I needed to do,” Hurd said. “I’m glad that I did it.”

Pearson has perhaps the most interesting background of these newcomers. The former Virginia prep star didn’t go to college directly out of high school and was working at McDonald’s when a friend talked him into giving football and school one more try.

That began his stunning journey from McDonald’s to Feather River to the SEC.

“For me, that is very, very rewarding, to see where that young man has come, the gratitude that he has each and every day,” Jones said. “He walks by me every day and taps me and says, ‘Thank you, Coach. Thank you for the opportunity.’ “

All these additions ought to boost a Tennessee offense that had nobody who caught more than three touchdown passes last year. Hurd should form a one-two punch in the backfield with senior Marlin Lane, who has rushed for 1,192 yards over the last two seasons.

The receiving corps features Malone, Pearson, North and junior Alton “Pig” Howard, who had a team-high 44 receptions last season. Jones also praised the early training-camp performances of freshman Vic Wharton, sophomore Josh Smith and freshman tight end Ethan Wolf.

“We still need to continue to recruit,” Jones said.” We are nowhere near where we need to be in terms of playmakers. But I think you all can see that we have really benefited from recruiting this past year.”

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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