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Rookie Pryor a playmaking hit in Jets debut

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — It took all of three plays for Calvin Pryor to make an impact for the New York Jets.

Boom! Fumble recovery.

And that merely set the tone for the first-round draft pick’s NFL debut.

“A lot of guys, they questioned me because I had a concussion,” Pryor said of the media after the Jets’ 25-17 win at Cincinnati on Saturday night. “They felt like I wasn’t going to be as aggressive when I came back. That’s the way I play football. I try to play lights out.

“I try to put fear in my opponents.”

The hard-hitting safety entered the game early in the second quarter after missing the preseason opener following a concussion that sidelined him for a chunk of training camp. On third down, Rex Ryan sent Pryor on a blitz — and he blasted through the offensive line as Demario Davis sacked Matt Scott and caused a fumble.

Pryor was right there to pounce on it, setting up the Jets’ first touchdown.

“That was only step one,” he said. “I came out here to make plays tonight and I got more comfortable within myself as the game went on.”

Sure did.

He finished with a team-leading seven tackles, including one on special teams, two passes defensed, and the fumble recovery. He seemed to be all over the field and always around the ball while playing in a team-high 48 snaps on defense.

All of that came after some wondered if Pryor would be a bit tentative after dealing with a concussion early in camp.

Not a chance.

“Give him a plus,” Ryan said. “I don’t know, he forced like two fumbles and knocked some dudes out. I guess we were right on that one.”

While Ryan’s secondary drew some heat for a shaky performance against Andy Dalton and the Bengals’ starters, Pryor was a huge positive later in the game, even if it was just preseason and he was playing against backups.

“He did a really good job,” quarterback Michael Vick said. “He’s a football player. He made the plays he’s supposed to. That’s why he was drafted No. 1.”

Pryor, known as the “Louisville Slugger” for his physical approach in college with the Cardinals, was taken with the 18th overall pick in May. Ryan highlighted his aggressive style, calling him “an enforcer” shortly after the team drafted Pryor.

He had a solid offseason and came into training camp expected to compete for a starting job opposite Dawan Landry or Antonio Allen. But in the team’s third practice at SUNY Cortland — and first in full pads — Pryor suffered a concussion during a special teams drill and missed several practices while going through the NFL’s protocol for head injuries.

Pryor was cleared to play in the Jets’ preseason opener last week against the Indianapolis Colts, but Ryan opted to have him sit since he missed so much time on the field. So, by the time Saturday night came, Pryor was raring to go. And, it certainly showed.

Shortly before halftime, Scott tossed a pass to Cobi Hamilton, who was immediately smashed by Pryor on a play that was ruled incomplete.

“I think it should’ve been a forced fumble,” Pryor said.

Early in the fourth quarter, Pryor sniffed out a running play and took down Rex Burkhead for a 2-yard loss. Burkhead left the game with a knee injury after the low but clean tackle by Pryor.

He also tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage, and likely earned a chance at playing with the starters in the Jets’ next preseason game against the Giants next Friday night at MetLife Stadium.

“I feel like some things I could have done better,” Pryor said. “The older guys lined me up and put me in the right position to make plays. They told me, ‘Go have fun. Go ball out.’ That’s what I tried to do.”

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AP Sports Writer Joe Kay in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

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AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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