Skip to main content

Running down Heisman contenders not named Jameis

By WTOP Staff

JOHN MARSHALL
AP College Football Writer

The preseason front-runner for the Heisman Trophy last season was easy. Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel won it as a freshman the year before, so there was little reason to pick against him.

No different this year. Florida State’s Jameis Winston won it as a freshman last season while leading the Seminoles to the national title, so, again, no sense in looking elsewhere.

But Winston is far from a lock.

Manziel couldn’t come through with another Heisman last season and there has only been one repeat winner — Archie Griffin in 1974 and 1975 — in the 78-year history of college football’s most prestigious award.

With that in mind, we are going to run down six other players who should have a chance at taking home the Heisman:

___

Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon. The Ducks’ leader was a strong Heisman contender last season before being derailed by a knee injury. He still set a school record with 4,380 yards of total offense and accounted for 40 TDs, though he was disappointed when Oregon fell out of national-title contention. After bypassing a shot at the NFL, the junior returns to lead an offense that piles up points and yards like a video game. If he stays healthy, Mariota is one of the nation’s best dual-threat quarterbacks and could find himself holding that bronze trophy.

Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State. The Buckeyes are taking it slow with Miller after offseason shoulder surgery, but he is expected to be ready for the opener against Navy on Aug. 30. Despite missing nearly three full games with a sprained knee last season, he passed for 2,094 yards and 24 touchdowns, and ran for 1,068 yards and 12 scores. The Big Ten’s two-time MVP, he bypassed a shot at the NFL to return to Columbus for his senior season and is motivated to make it a big one.

Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor. The Bears set an NCAA record with 52.4 points per game last season, and Petty was the conductor, setting 17 school records while leading Baylor to its first Big 12 title and only BCS bowl. The senior was the Big 12 offensive player of the year after passing for 4,200 yards and 32 TDs — with just three interceptions — and running for 14 more scores. Expect more big numbers from the Bears and Petty.

Myles Jack, LB, UCLA. UCLA teammate Brett Hundley might have a better shot at winning the Heisman, but we wanted to get a defensive player in the mix. Jack made a big splash as a freshman last season by becoming a where-did-he-come-from two-way player, rushing for 120 yards in his first game, scoring four TDs the next. But Jack’s NFL future is as a linebacker, and the Bruins have limited him to that side of the ball in fall camp. He might see some time at running back again this season, but he is going to have an impact on D regardless.

Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia. Gurley missed three games last season with an ankle injury and wasn’t right when he came back as the Bulldogs limped to an 8-5 finish. Fully healthy again, this bulldog of a Bulldog — 6-foot-1, 226 pounds — has his eyes set on a 2,000-yard season and possibly a spot in New York. Even with his injury a year ago, the junior has rushed for 2,374 yards and 27 touchdowns in two seasons, so 2K isn’t completely out of the question.

Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn. Marshall’s chances might be hurt by starting the season opener on the bench. The senior was cited for marijuana possession last month and coach Gus Malzahn said he won’t start against Arkansas on Aug. 30. He still might play in that game and is expected to have another big season after passing for 1,976 yards, running for 1,068 and accounting for 26 touchdowns while leading the Tigers to the final BCS national championship game last year.

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