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Bama’s deep backfield should take pressure off QBs

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Whoever emerges as Alabama’s starting quarterback has a built-in safety net in the backfield.

When in doubt, the second-ranked Crimson Tide’s Jake Coker or Blake Sims can always hand off to T.J. Yeldon. Or Derrick Henry. Or perhaps Kenyan Drake.

That tailback trio once again gives Alabama an enviable backfield when the season opens Saturday against West Virginia in the Georgia Dome, and it’s an especially nice luxury while the quarterbacks build experience.

“I think all three of those guys are guys we definitely want involved in the game that have playmaking ability,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “We’re very confident that all three of them can make a significant contribution to our team in some kind of way this year.”

The only change from recent years in the Bama-to-NFL chain of Trent Richardson, Mark Ingram and Eddie Lacy is the Tide has three, not two, proven tailbacks.

There’s Yeldon, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher. Then there’s the bulldozing former top recruit Henry who effectively had his coming out party against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl and the speedy but sometimes-overlooked Drake.

Henry’s emergence has pushed Drake to third-team status despite a 694-yard, eight-touchdown season. It remains to be seen how the carries are divvied among runners with different styles who have all had some success.

“All of those guys are unique, all those guys are great,” Tide receiver Amari Cooper said. “They have qualities that I haven’t seen out of many running backs. Kenyan Drake is like a cat to me, very slippery runner. You can’t turn your head when he’s running the ball because he’s bound to make the big play at any time.

“T.J. is a very explosive player. He makes one cut and he’s already 10 yards up the field. And you have Derrick Henry, who can break 10 tackles in one play. All of them are unique and nice players to watch.”

Yeldon is the leader of the group after rushing for 2,343 yards and 26 touchdowns despite occasional fumble problems. No other Tide player has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.

Yeldon is also soft-spoken and doesn’t speak to reporters regularly.

But, offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said, “that guy goes as hard as anyone on our team and just wants to be great and just wants to learn.”

“He’s just a guy who’s really quiet,” Kiffin said. “He’s not looking for accolades. He’s not looking for everybody to praise and just help him out. I don’t know how to phrase it, but he’s just a guy who’s so humble about everything he’s been given. He’s not really looking for accolades. He lets his playing do the talking.”

Henry was already a hyped player when he arrived in Tuscaloosa as the all-time leader among high school rushers. The 6-foot-3, 241-pounder sent the fan expectations soaring even higher when he ran for a 43-yard touchdown and caught a 61-yard scoring pass in New Orleans.

However, he finished with a modest 35 total carries even if he averaged 10.9 yards per shot so the hype was mixed with a dose of humility.

“Last year humbled me a lot,” Henry said. “It gave me the fuel to go into this season, this fall camp, working hard. I just tune it out, just come here and go to work.”

Then there’s Drake, who has averaged 7.3 yards per carry with 13 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

All three had carries of 50-plus yards last season.

“Derrick has that power,” fullback Jalston Fowler said. “He’s just a horse — a mad man back there. T.J.’s got quickness and speed. Drake’s got quickness and speed. Those guys, you can put any one of them back there and they can break for a big play.”

___

Follow John Zenor on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jzenor

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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