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QBs shine at Oklahoma State scrimmage

By WTOP Staff

CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said quarterbacks J.W. Walsh, Daxx Garman and Mason Rudolph were outstanding Saturday in the team’s last major scrimmage before the Aug. 30 opener against Florida State.

“The quarterbacks played the best they’ve played in a scrimmage probably in a number of years here,” Gundy said.

The Cowboys still haven’t announced a starting QB. Walsh, who started five games last season, appears to be the front runner after passing for 1,333 yards last season.

“J.W. brings a lot of physicality to the game,” offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said. “He understands the game very well, and he has experience, and he’s a great leader.”

That doesn’t mean Walsh has anything locked up. Gundy said Garman has had a good camp, and he was good again on Saturday.

“He played very well,” Gundy said. “He threw the ball effectively. He was able to move around in the pocket and pick up some yards scrambling.”

Yurcich said Garman, who has not played at Oklahoma State since transferring from Arizona before the 2012 season, has made his mark throughout camp.

“He’s had a lot of practice reps,” Yurcich said. “He continues to impress us with his ability to throw the ball down the field. Daxx can really spin the ball. It’s really pretty to watch him throw it.”

Yurcich said Rudolph is progressing. The highly touted pocket passer entered Oklahoma State in the spring and, even with some mistakes, he has impressed the coaches.

“Mason Rudolph still has a little bit of growth from an intellectual standpoint,” Yurcich said. “Small things that are very correctable, but very typical of a rookie. From a physical standpoint, we’re very excited about him being here.”

The coaches said the team looked sharper than in its scrimmage seven days earlier.

They said film of Saturday will go a long way toward deciding position battles and possibly who might redshirt as the focus shifts to the regular season.

The Cowboys lost their top two receivers, Josh Stewart and Tracy Moore, from a year ago, but Gundy said Jhajuan Seales, Brandon Sheperd and David Glidden have been making plays throughout camp. Seales caught 39 passes for 571 yards and three touchdowns last season. Sheperd caught 14 passes for 223 yards and Glidden caught 15 passes for 173 yards a year ago.

Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said his unit held its own during Saturday’s scrimmage, and the defensive front was especially good. Spencer said he pulled his starters early in the scrimmage so he could get a better look at the backups.

Spencer said some of the young defensive backs made some mistakes in the secondary, the kind that could affect their position on the depth chart.

“We had some pass interferences that I’m not pleased with,” he said. “Most of them were young guys, those border guys who have got to just see and learn. It’s a point of emphasis. If you get your hands on (your opponent) downfield, even though he might have his hands on you, you don’t know which way it’s going to go. So they’ve got to learn from it. It’s a tough job.”

Spencer said freshman linebacker Justin Phillips has stood out during camp.

“Justin Phillips has really showed up,” Spencer said. “He can tackle. Some of the wide stuff, we’ve got to work through it, but he’ll put his face on you, so I’m pleased with him.”

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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP

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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