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Malzahn: Johnson will start for Auburn at QB

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Jeremy Johnson will be No. 6 Auburn’s starting quarterback against Arkansas, and Nick Marshall will play in the game at some point.

That’s about all Tigers coach Gus Malzahn would say about the situation on Tuesday. He had previously said Marshall and cornerback Jonathon Mincy would not start the opener after legal issues over the summer.

Malzahn didn’t give a hint on when Marshall will take his first snap on Saturday but said that “we have a plan and they know the plan.”

Previously, he hadn’t even acknowledged that Johnson would open the game but said the sophomore has known for some time.

The dual-threat Marshall led Auburn to the Southeastern Conference championship and national title game last season after transferring from junior college. He passed for 1,976 yards and ran for 1,068, accounting for 26 touchdowns and directing the first SEC offense to lead the nation in rushing.

His mother paid the $1,100 fines after Marshall was cited for marijuana possession and a window tint violation during a July 11 traffic stop in Georgia. He wasn’t arrested.

Josh Holsey will start for Mincy, who also will play against Arkansas, Malzahn said. Mincy, who has 29 career starts, was arrested and charged with second-degree possession of marijuana in June.

Starting defensive back Robenson Therezie wasn’t listed on the depth chart released Tuesday. Malzahn has said he is dealing with eligibility issues but didn’t elaborate on what those are or when Therezie might return.

The uncertainty isn’t fazing Arkansas coach Bret Bielema.

“I don’t know how long their quarterback’s not going to be in there, but their second-string quarterback is a very good player,” Bielema said Monday. “Who knows how long the second-string corner is going to be in there, and their second-string corner is a good player. Who knows if the safety’s going to play.

“There’s a lot of unknown things but what matters is the 11 guys who are going to suit up for Auburn are going to be well coached.”

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Johnson, Alabama’s high school Mr. Football two years ago, started one nonconference game and played most of the way in another when Marshall was injured.

He was 29-of-41 passing for 422 yards and rushed only seven times for 47 yards. Johnson threw for six touchdowns and was intercepted twice.

Malzahn said there’s nothing in the offense that they’re worried about Johnson handling. That would include the zone read that became Auburn’s bread and butter last season with Marshall and tailbacks led by Tre Mason.

“He’s a lot like Nick. He went through the season, learned the offense on the go,” Malzahn said of Johnson. “Then we had a chance in the spring, gave him a lot of reps.

“He was already pretty familiar with this style of offense because he did something very similar in high school. We have a lot of confidence in him to run our entire offense. He’s very talented. I mean, the two games he played last year he was the freshman SEC offensive player of the week.”

The coaches had already decided that Johnson would play a bigger role this season. He’s expected to be the front-runner to replace Marshall in the 2015 season.

Tailback Cameron Artis-Payne said he’s been impressed by Johnson’s maturity, passing and ability to read defenses. Guard Chad Slade echoed the confidence level.

“It’s just like if Nick was back there,” Slade said. “He’s a leader on the team. Jeremy’s a leader. You really can’t tell a difference.”

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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