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Versatility gives Indy rookie chance to do it all

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

Colts rookie Jack Mewhort has suddenly become Indy’s most valuable commodity.

The do-it-all offensive lineman has insisted he’s comfortable at any of the five positions along the line. And given the Colts mounting injury problems, that’s exactly what they need. On Saturday, the rookie who was expected to compete at left guard suddenly found himself sharing snaps in front of Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.

“It’s definitely a little bit of mental gymnastics going through all the different stuff but I accept the challenge. It helps me,” Mewhort said. “When you know the offense from the center out, it helps you understand different positions like guard and tackle. In the long run, it’s a big help.”

Indy’s initial plan was to let the second-round draft pick settle in at one spot to help him make the transition from Ohio State to the NFL.

They don’t have a choice now.

One week into training camp, starting left guard Donald Thomas went down with a torn right quad, the same injury that ended his 2013 season.

On Thursday night against the Jets, the Colts lost their starting center, Khaled Holmes, with a left ankle injury on the first series. Holmes watched Saturday’s practice while wearing a protective walking boot and is expected back in two to three weeks, certainly enough time to start the Sept. 7 season opener at Denver.

But Indy’s injury list doesn’t stop there.

Xavier Nixon, who was expected to be a key backup after making one start and appearing in four games last year, had arthroscopic surgery on an injured knee Friday and is expected to miss three weeks. And seventh-round draft pick Ulrick John may miss significant time, too, with a lower right leg injury.

The injuries left Indy thin at center, where they had only Holmes and two undrafted rookies, Jonotthan Harrison and FN Lutz III, before re-signing Thomas Austin on Friday night.

Austin spent time with Houston and Carolina in 2011 and 2012 before playing in one game with the Colts last season. Harrison replaced Holmes in Thursday night’s game and had a hand in two bad snaps, including one on third down that forced Indy to settle for a field goal.

Harrison is simply trying to make the necessary corrections as he splits the snaps with Mewhort, probably until Holmes returns.

“It’s very unfortunate what happened to him (Holmes) but at the same time, it’s a great opportunity for me to get in and get the experience, especially in these preseason games,” he said. “I’m thankful for the experience, and I’m definitely going to capitalize on it as much as I can.”

Mewhort has been through this before. He played both guard spots and left tackle at Ohio State. In high school, he was considered one of the nation’s best centers and he continued taking snaps there in college as the Buckeyes’ emergency center.

The move could also help former Bears starter Lance Louis, who wasn’t in the league last season, gain a foothold at left guard, where he was battling Mewhort for playing time following Thomas’ season-ending injury.

So for now, Mewhort will be learning his new job on the fly.

“Mindset doesn’t change,” he said. “It’s been compete since day one and that’s what I’m here to do. Nothing is set in stone, so just go out there every day and grind and hopefully good stuff happens.”

Notes: Colts coach Chuck Pagano said linebacker Daniel Adongo, the Kenyan rugby player, ruptured his biceps Thursday night and defensive lineman Jeris Pendleton tore the ACL in his knee. Both will miss the entire season and were put on the waived-injured list Friday night. … Edgerrin James, the Colts’ career rushing leader, visited camp Saturday . … Tight end Dwayne Allen graduated from Clemson on Friday, making him the first of seven children in his family to earn a college degree.

___

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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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