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Tennessee names Justin Worley Vols’ starting QB

By WTOP Staff

STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee quarterback Justin Worley will get a chance to provide senior leadership to one of the youngest offenses in the Southeastern Conference.

Volunteers coach Butch Jones announced Thursday that Worley would start the Aug. 31 season opener against Utah State. Sophomores Nathan Peterman and Joshua Dobbs continue to compete for the right to serve as Worley’s main backup.

“I was hoping that he would lean my way,” Worley said. “Now I’ve just got to take the opportunity and run with it.”

Although each of the three quarterbacks started at least one game last season, Worley was the most experienced contender. That experience could prove essential as Tennessee replaces all of last year’s starters on the offensive line and relies heavily on newcomers in the backfield and receiving corps.

“Justin’s played in big-time games,” Jones said. “He understands the environment. He’s one of the most experienced returning quarterbacks in the SEC, and we’re going to need that with a very, very young football team.”

Worley started seven games last season before undergoing season-ending surgery on his right thumb. He completed 55.6 percent of his passes for 1,239 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Dobbs started the final four games after Worley got hurt last year. Peterman started ahead of Worley and struggled in a 31-17 loss to Florida before a broken hand knocked him out for the rest of the season.

Worley believes he’s more consistent this year and has a better grasp of the offense. After deferring to Tennessee’s senior-laden offensive line last season, Worley says he has worked to become a better leader this year.

“I was a little timid last year, I’ll tell you that,” said Worley, who has 10 career starts. “I think Coach Jones will tell you that too. I was a little timid, didn’t really take things and run with it. But this year, I’ve done a good job of getting the guys’ respect and leading the offense.”

Jones challenged his quarterbacks last week by saying the Vols weren’t playing “winning football” at that position. Jones has offered more praise for all the quarterbacks lately and said Thursday that Worley “is playing the best football that he’s played in a long time.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian said all the quarterbacks have improved since Jones’ criticism. Bajakian added that Worley’s progress and track record made it an “easy and apparent decision” to give him the starting spot.

Bajakian noted that Worley had physically transformed himself over the last year, which has improved his durability. Worley, who is 6-foot-4, says he currently weighs 230 pounds. He was listed as 222 pounds in last year’s media guide.

Worley said he feels faster even with the extra weight.

“I think that’s helped him athletically,” Bajakian said. “He’s always had a strong arm, but it’s helped him with durability and with endurance. And that can only help you with accuracy.”

Worley now must try to beef up a passing attack that struggled to produce big plays a year ago. Tennessee ranked 111th among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in passing efficiency last season.

The Vols believe they have more weapons in their offense this year, thanks in part to the addition of a heralded 32-man recruiting class.

“I’ve just got to get it into some of these guys’ hands,” Worley said, “and they can turn a little bubble into a 60-yard touchdown.”

NOTES: Defensive end Curt Maggitt, who hasn’t practiced since late last week, says he’s “all good” and that he’d “definitely” be ready for the season opener. Maggitt wouldn’t specify the nature of his injury but said it was “just some minor things.” … Jones said sophomore George Bullock leads the competition to replace the departed Michael Palardy as Tennessee’s main kicker, but a final decision hasn’t been made. … Tennessee’s Saturday night practice at Neyland Stadium is open to the public. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the practice is scheduled to start at 6:50 p.m.

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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