Skip to main content

Red Raiders QB set; team aims for fewer turnovers

By WTOP Staff

BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Coach Kliff Kingsbury and his quarterback are in similar territory entering their second seasons at Texas Tech.

Both say they’ve have put last year behind them, especially after the Red Raiders (8-5) had five straight losses to close the regular season and finished near the bottom in penalties and turnovers.

Progress is needed in several areas and mistakes lessened, Kingsbury said.

“That’s going to happen with young quarterbacks,” he said. “If we improve upon that, then things will be looking up.”

For the first time in years Texas Tech’s starting quarterback is already set. Davis Webb will be the one taking snaps for the Red Raiders after competing with Baker Mayfield, last season’s Big 12 freshman offensive player of the year. Mayfield transferred to Oklahoma.

Kingsbury said Webb, the MVP in the Holiday Bowl with a record setting four touchdown passes in the Red Raiders’ 37-23 win over then-No. 16 Arizona State, is looking sharp.

“He’s got a chance to be really, really good this year,” Kingsbury said. “He’s not going to try to take off all of the time out of the pocket. That’s not really his game. He plays to his strengths, which is smart.”

Webb believes this team is far better already.

“It’s not even close,” the sophomore said. “Our team last year was good, but this team has a chance to be great.”

The Red Raiders open their season at home Aug. 30 against Central Arkansas. Here are five things to watch this season at Texas Tech:

QUARTERBACK DEARTH:

Webb (2,718 yards and 20 TDs) is the starter but there’s not much experience after that. Backup Patrick Mahomes threw for 4,619 yards with 50 touchdowns his senior year at Whitehouse in East Texas. He also ran for 15 TDs. He was last year’s Texas Associated Press Sports Editors football player of the year. “If we can seal some games, which is our hope, we’ll play him a bunch to get him ready,” Kingsbury said. Mahomes also plays baseball. There are also three freshman walk-ons at QB.

SPEEDY RECEIVERS:

Jace Amaro and Eric Ward are gone but Kingsbury believes receivers this season are faster. “I feel like we have some guys that can really run, and we’re going to make a more conscious effort to push the ball down the field this year,” Kingsbury said. The speedsters include Jakeem Grant (796 yards, seven TDs), Bradley Marquez (633 yards and six TDs) and Devin Lauderdale, a transfer from Navarro College (669 yards and six TDs).

DEFENSE STABILITY:

For the first time since 2009, the defense has the same coordinator for longer than a year. Matt Wallerstedt will lead a squad that dealt with injury last season and finished 84th in the country in total defense, giving up 418.5 yards per game. The defense is deeper this season, DE Branden Jackson said. “Everything is falling into place,” he said. “Chemistry is real good right now.”

TAPERING THE TURNOVERS: Webb and Mayfield combined for 18 interceptions (113th in nation) and the team lost 15 fumbles (116th). “If you can do that and win eight games, imagine what you can do if you can just get to the 50s,” Kingsbury said.

MORE RUSHING: The Red Raiders want to run the ball more this season. Last year, they passed the ball 714 times and ran it 422 times. Webb said last year the defenses counted on Texas Tech passing a lot. “Having a good run game will help me out and help the receivers get open,” he said. Last year’s leading rusher, Kenny Williams, has moved to linebacker, so the Red Raiders are looking to DeAndre Washington (485 yards, four TDs) to step up.

Predicted finish in Big 12: Sixth

___

Online:

AP college football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org/

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