Skip to main content

All eyes on Mannion as Beavers open camp

By WTOP Staff

ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

Sean Mannion went into last year’s fall camp uncertain whether he would be the starter. This season, the uncertainty centers on who will emerge as his go-to receiver.

Mannion set a Pac-12 season record for yards passing with 4,662 and threw an Oregon State-record 37 touchdown passes, third-most for a single season in conference history.

The fifth-year senior has 10,436 career yards passing and could break Matt Barkley’s record of 12,274 before the end of the season.

A drop-back passer who fits perfectly into coach Mike Riley’s pro-style offense, Mannion is on the preseason watch lists for a slew of honors, including the Walter Camp, Davey O’Brien and Maxwell awards.

But he’ll need a new favorite target now that Brandin Cooks has moved on to the New Orleans Saints.

Cooks won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver. As a junior last season, he set Pac-12 records with 128 catches for 1,730 yards. He also broke the school record with 16 touchdown receptions.

The heir apparent appears to be Richard Mullaney, who caught 52 passes for 788 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore last season. Sophomore Victor Bolden is expected to slide into Cooks’ spot at flanker, and redshirt freshman Hunter Jarmon could also see playing time.

“I think that we’ve got quite a few guys with capabilities. And frankly, it’s gonna be a matter of who plays the best in camp,” Riley said last week in a conference call with reporters who cover the team. “A lot of them haven’t played very much, so they gotta come fast and make plays in camp and become reliable.”

Oregon State opened fall camp on Monday. Last season, the Beavers finished 7-6, capping off the year with a 38-23 victory over Boise State in the Hawaii Bowl.

This season opens at home on Aug. 30 against Big Sky opponent Portland State.

Mannion competed for the starter’s job in camp last season with Cody Vaz, although it became quickly apparent that Mannion would get Riley’s nod.

He stumbled at the start when the Beavers lost at home to lower-division Eastern Washington in the opener, but rebounded to lead Oregon State to six straight wins.

Mannion was considered a Heisman hopeful until a five-game losing streak closed out Oregon State’s regular season.

There were questions following the season about whether Mannion would turn pro like Cooks. The 6-foot-5 quarterback said he consulted the NFL Draft Advisory Board and was projected as a third-round selection.

Mannion, who has his degree in liberal studies, decided to stick with the Beavers, and spent the summer making himself better.

He went to the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana, where he roomed with Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. He joined fellow quarterbacks including Utah’s Travis Wilson as a counselor at the Nike Elite 11 camp run by Trent Dilfer.

And he worked out when he could with Oregon State’s young receivers and fellow quarterbacks.

“I think the course that he took when he looked into coming out put him on the radar as far as people talking more about him, whether it was to be in the NFL or you folks in the media,” Riley said. “But I think the biggest factor is he’s a good player with a lot of good numbers, so he belongs in any conversation about quarterbacking in this country right now.”

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