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Iowa State opens with concerns on defense

By WTOP Staff

LUKE MEREDTH
AP Sports Writer

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The key to the upcoming season couldn’t be any clearer for Iowa State.

The defense will need to play much better than it did a year ago for the Cyclones to have any hope of escaping the Big 12 basement.

For all the talk about new coordinator Mark Mangino’s revamped offense, it’s Iowa State’s defense that should be under the heaviest scrutiny. The Cyclones allowed 36 points a game last season — ranking 109th out of 125 Bowl Subdivision teams — and surrendered at least 41 points five times in nine league games.

Iowa State knows that can’t happen again this season, which starts on Saturday at home against defending FCS champion North Dakota State.

“Am I happier than I was a year ago at this point with what I saw on the practice field? Yes, I am. But until we get out there and start playing other folks, we’ve got areas that are a concern for us,” coach Paul Rhoads said of his defense.

It’s hard to glean too much into the importance of returning starters when a unit struggled as much as Iowa State’s defense did in 2013.

Still, the Cyclones have some experienced guys to count on.

Iowa State has a pair of starters back to lead the program’s biggest question mark: defensive line. Right end Cory Morrissey is a potential All-Big 12 player after a promising season in 2013, and senior Brandon Jensen has reclaimed his starting spot at tackle after briefly quitting the team in the offseason.

Sophomore Mitchell Meyers has won the starting job at left end, and Devlyn Cousin will open the season at nose tackle.

“The interior linemen, they’ve really matured. They’ve stepped up and made great plays during camp,” Morrissey said. “We’re going to make some plays this year.”

The Cyclones have plenty of linebackers.

But many of them haven’t played much beyond special teams.

Redshirt freshman Alton Meeks will be Iowa State’s middle linebacker. Unheralded former walk-on Drake Ferch beat out senior Jared Brackens for the strong-side starting job, and senior Jevohn Miller will get the nod over sophomore Luke Knott on Saturday.

Rhoads is confident that Meeks and his inexperienced backups at middle linebacker, Kane Seeley and junior college transfer Jordan Harris, will be able to handle the communication responsibilities inherent to the position.

“They made the rights and lefts and got us in the right calls,” Rhoads said. “We’ll have 11 guys out there lined up right for a high percentage of the time. I’m confident about that.”

Cornerbacks Nigel Tribune and Sam E. Richardson — who is unrelated to Iowa State quarterback Sam Richardson — will start. Kenneth Lynn and rising senior Matt Thomas will back them up. The safeties will be a pair of new starters: T.J. Mutcherson and Kamari Cotton-Moyer.

“The corners have played like veteran players,” Rhoads said. “The safeties have looked like guys that have not yet played in the Big 12.”

The idea that Iowa State might have to outscore teams to win took shape in the offseason with the addition of Mangino.

But if the Cyclones can match an improved offense with a defense capable of making stops, they could easily outperform expectations that pegged them ninth in the Big 12 preseason poll.

“We’ve got unproven areas. We’ve got to get out there and start mixing it up with other folks, and it will quickly unfold to see if we are improved, markedly improved, or where we sit defensively,” Rhoads said.

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Follow Luke Meredith on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LukeMeredithAP

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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