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Alabama’s defense welcomes back DePriest, Jackson

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s defense is hoping for a boost from the return of linebacker Trey DePriest and cornerback Eddie Jackson.

The second-ranked Crimson Tide could use their help, especially with starting defensive back Jarrick Williams sidelined for a month with a fractured bone in his foot.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said the secondary “didn’t play very well at all” against West Virginia and the linebackers were confused at times without the steady guidance of DePriest.

DePriest returns Saturday against Florida Atlantic from a one-game suspension for an undisclosed NCAA infraction, and should fit right back into the starting lineup. First-time starters Reggie Ragland and Reuben Foster started at the inside linebacker spots against the Mountaineers’ fast-paced offense.

“I think that we certainly didn’t play defense the way we want to play it,” Saban said. “We made a lot of mental errors. But I think not having Trey DePriest, our signal caller on defense up front, created a little confusion playing in the no-huddle with two linebackers who really could be good players but got a little confused.

“I think that created a lot of anxiety for us. I think we settled down and played a little bit better in the second half.”

Jackson’s role Saturday isn’t as clear as DePriest’s. He had knee surgery in April but is expected to play — how much is an open question. The secondary was burned for 365 yards in the opener.

“I feel like we’ll play him some in this game, some kind of way, trying to ease him back into what he has to do,” Saban said. “(He’s) a very good player that we’re anxious to get back in the lineup, but certainly not at the expense of putting him in any risk.

“From a medical standpoint, he’s been cleared. So now we’re sort of working him into it and he’s looked pretty good.”

Jackson started in four games and played in seven as a freshman, recording 19 tackles with an interception and two fumble recoveries. Saban said he hadn’t gotten many practice repetitions with the first- or second-team defenses before this week.

Cyrus Jones and Bradley Sylve were the starting cornerbacks against West Virginia.

Saban praised the performance of Jones, who coaches recognized as one of their players of the week. Sylve was targeted at times and gave up a 19-yard touchdown to Kevin White, where he was in tight coverage but didn’t appear to look back for the ball.

Saban didn’t single out any specific player but said that was an issue for the Tide, and some mistakes could be attributed to “confusion” not lack of know-how or talent.

“Several plays we were in position and the guy didn’t play the ball,” he said. “It’s not what he’s coached to do. He’s coached to play the ball, he’s capable of playing the ball, he didn’t play the ball. That’s poise and confidence. He’s supposed to look for the ball and play the ball.”

Geno Smith and Maurice Smith are listed as backups to Williams at the Star position.

At cornerback, Jones appears to have come a long way since switching from receiver before last season. He said he’s able to play faster now that he’s more comfortable with the playbook.

He said the opening game hasn’t dampened Tide players’ confidence in Sylve.

“We as a defense and as a team as a whole know what Bradley can do, what kind of athlete he is,” Jones said. “We never lost faith.”

DePriest returns Saturday against Florida Atlantic from a one-game suspension for an undisclosed NCAA infraction. Jackson had knee surgery in April but Saban says he should play a role “some kind of way.”

The Tide allowed 365 passing yards against West Virginia.

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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