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Marcus Harris making an impact at Giants camp

By WTOP Staff

JIM HAGUE
Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — When Marcus Harris was beginning his high school football career as a quarterback at Kirkwood High School in St. Louis, he was given a nickname by teammate Jeremy Maclin.

“He called me ‘Superstar,’ but I didn’t like it much,” said Harris, the New York Giants’ rookie wide receiver, talking about his friend Maclin of the Philadelphia Eagles.

“So it got shortened to ‘Soup.’ That stuck.”

Harris signed as a free agent with the Giants out of Murray State last year and spent the season bouncing on and off the Giants’ practice squad. His work in training camp has impressed the Giants’ coaching staff.

The 6-foot-1, 187-pound Harris caught four passes for 48 yards to lead the team in the Giants’ 17-13 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills last Sunday night. He’s already become a fan favorite, as fans were chanting “Sooooooup,” at practice Wednesday night.

“I thought they were yelling, ‘Cruuuuuuz,’ but then I realized it was for me,” Harris said Thursday before the team’s final practice before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night.

“It was pretty cool. Now everyone is calling me that, even some of the coaches.”

In Sunday night’s game, Harris caught a pass and took a big hit, but got up quickly and mimicked with his hands as if he had a bowl and a spoon in his hands.

“It’s just what I do,” said Harris, who was a standout receiver at Murray State, with 216 receptions and 21 touchdowns during his career that ended in 2010. He had 84 catches for 1,057 yards and nine touchdowns in his senior year.

Harris spent 2012 playing for Omaha of the United Football League and the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League, the same team that once produced Super Bowl MVP QB Kurt Warner.

Harris was with the Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans’ practice squads before signing and re-signing with the Giants a total of five times in 2013.

That determination caught the eye of the Giants’ staff this year.

“He’s a tough kid,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “He’s out there on special teams and he’s making plays. He’s had some nicks, but he’s out there. He’s caught the ball well. He’s usually been in the right spot.

“The person who takes advantage of the opportunity given to him is where it starts. If you come in, be focused, work hard and stay out there day in and day out and be persistent the way this young man has done, well, that’s a good thing. He’s gotten better enough to be recognized.”

Harris knows that the Giants have had a history of keeping undrafted free agents. One in particular is fellow receiver Victor Cruz.

“It’s great to have a guy like that on the team, knowing he’s with me and supporting me,” Harris said of Cruz. “He knows what this is like and how tough it is. He’s a good friend and I’m glad he’s pulling for me.”

Harris is not afraid of any position.

“I think kickoff returns are something I really liked doing in college,” Harris said. “Hopefully, I’ll get a chance in a game. I’m down with whatever they want for me. I can play inside. I can play outside.

“I’m comfortable with everything. I have to do it all. The more I do, the better shot I have of making this team. I know I had a good game, but there are things I still have to work on. I still have to prove myself. There are a lot of receivers here and I still have to make my mark.”

However, hearing his name chanted by fans and getting noticed by a two-time Super Bowl winning head coach is not a bad start for Harris.

“Most people just dream about an opportunity like this,” Harris said. “I just have to keep doing what I have been doing.”

NOTES: First-round draft pick Odell Beckham, Jr. said that he is making progress with his strained hamstring, but he’s not ready to take the field just yet. “I’m doing a lot more and I feel a lot better,” said Beckham, the team’s top pick (No. 11 overall) out of LSU. “It’s just one of those day-by-day things. I don’t feel like I can reach my top speed, so I’m holding off and waiting. Once I get back out there, I definitely feel like I can do things. It’s kind of hard just being on the side and watching practice. I see all the fun they’re having, so it hurts not to be out there.” There is no timetable for Beckham’s return to action. … Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has been impressed with rookie LB Devon Kennard, the team’s fifth-round pick out of USC. “He’s definitely exceeding my expectations,” Fewell said of Kennard. “He came in very poised and mature and you don’t find that a lot in rookies.” … Fewell also said that fourth-year LB Jacquian Williams has become an every down linebacker and not a specialty player. “His confidence combined with his ability has enabled him to become a good football player.” … The Giants have the day off on Friday.

___

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

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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