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Austin, Bailey ready for second season with Rams

By WTOP Staff

WARREN MAYES
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Wide receiver Tavon Austin expects to make more of an impact in his second season with the St. Louis Rams. Former West Virginia teammate Stedman Bailey will be part of the plan, too, after serving a four-game suspension at the start of the season.

The Rams released the depth chart for Friday’s preseason opener against visiting New Orleans on Monday and the 5-foot-8, 175-pound Austin will start along with Kenny Britt.

“It’s not about starting, it’s about helping this team get wins,” Austin said. “I’m looking forward to it. I’ve worked hard enough for it. Even if I don’t start, it doesn’t matter. I just want to help.”

The Rams practiced Monday in helmets and pads. Austin, who missed the final three games last season with a high ankle sprain, caught several passes from quarterback Sam Bradford.

St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher noticed.

“Tavon’s doing a lot of different things. He feels good. He is making some big catches,” Fisher said. “It’s just a matter of getting the ball to him in space. You could see a couple of times today he made people miss and picked up big gains.

“That’s what we’re looking for. We’ve got a good feel for him. He’s got a good feel for the offense. It’s just a matter of finding enough footballs to go around.”

Bailey had been spending time with the first unit. He is listed as a backup to Austin on the unofficial depth chart.

One reason may be the four-game NFL suspension Bailey received for violating league policy on performance-enhancing substances. Once the preseason ends, Bailey won’t be seen again until October.

Despite the suspension, Bailey is allowed to practice and play in all four preseason games.

“It’s something that kills me every time I think about it, but my job is to keep working hard, keep giving my all, and when I come back, just keep looking for a show,” Bailey said.

Fisher said Bailey has performed well in camp.

“He knows how to get open, and knows how to make the plays,” Fisher said. “Yes, we’ll miss him, but he’s going to push right through camp and we’ll get through his ordeal and we’ll get him right back in the lineup.”

Bailey was a late bloomer in his rookie season. He did not catch a pass in the first eight games, then had 15 catches for 195 yards in the final five games.

Austin and Bailey both had standout careers at West Virginia. Needing more targets for Bradford, St. Louis drafted the duo.

The Rams traded up to get Austin in the first round after he caught 288 career passes for 3,413 yards and 29 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,033 yards and six touchdowns at West Virginia. In his final season, he caught 114 passes for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Bailey was a third-round selection. In his final two college seasons, Bailey had 186 receptions for 2,901 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Austin finished his rookie campaign with 40 receptions for 418 yards and four touchdown catches, including two of 57 and 81 yards. He also carried the ball nine times for 151 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown run and another one for 56 yards.

He had a 98-yard punt return for a touchdown against Indianapolis. Several big returns were brought back because of penalties. Austin ended with 678 return yards.

He had a treat last week when former Rams standout Kurt Warner visited camp. Warner threw some passes to Austin.

“I was little when he was going to Super Bowls,” Austin said. “He’s still got it. He threw some good balls. He was very nice. He said I could call him anytime.”

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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