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Shelby Harris completes journey by making Raiders

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Shelby Harris had no idea what his football future would hold when he was suspended for his final college season at Illinois State.

After spending part of his time off waiting tables in an Italian restaurant, Harris was able to get into good enough shape to persuade the Oakland Raiders to draft him in the seventh round.

Harris then showed enough in training camp and the exhibition games to earn a spot on Oakland’s 53-man roster as a backup defensive lineman. Instead of viewing that comeback as an impressive feat, Harris said it is only the beginning.

“I knew the whole time I could make this roster,” Harris said. “It was just a matter of going out there and showing them. It’s a big step but the journey is not over. You made the roster but now what will you do? Are you complacent making the roster or are you trying to make a move up the roster and be able to play and make plays?”

Harris made a strong early impression in his start to his NFL career with one sack and eight quarterback hurries in limited time in the exhibition season. He has had ups and downs that would be expected after going more than 20 months without playing a game.

Harris was suspended for his final year of college at Illinois State for an undisclosed violation of team rules and kicked off the team. He previously had been suspended at Wisconsin and forced to transfer.

Harris does not want to talk about what led to his dismissal but says he was humbled by it and got an even deeper appreciation of playing football from his time away.

“Just watching all my friends and my teammates going out to practice every day, going out during the games, missing teammate camaraderie. It hurts,” he said. “It hurts just because that’s what you live for. When you play sports you live for being on the team, that teammate camaraderie.”

The Raiders were willing to overlook Harris’ transgressions to draft him in the seventh round in May because they believed in him as a person and player.

Harris had 14 sacks in three seasons at Illinois State and was an all-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 2012. But he was suspended from the team in March 2013.

He spent his year away from football working out and playing basketball to stay in shape. He also got a job as a waiter before leaving to train for the draft in Indianapolis.

“I still feel like I’m not 100 percent back but I’m making strides every day,” he said. “Just being able to be out here and perfect my craft every day. Every day it takes coming out here and working on it. I don’t know when I’ll be back and I don’t know when I’ll go past where I was but all I know is slowly I’m getting there.”

The Raiders like what they have seen so far, even though Harris has shown some inconsistencies.

“I like Shelby and when he sets his mind and goes,” defensive coordinator Jason Tarver said. “He’s very smart, so sometimes he thinks too much. … We line him up inside and outside and he can handle it mentally, but he just needs to go fast. But I do like where Shelby’s progressing. As long as he works one play at a time, he’s got a chance.”

Harris’ transition to the NFL has been helped by the presence of veterans like Justin Tuck, LaMarr Woodley, Antonio Smith and Pat Sims on the defensive line.

Harris said working with accomplished players like that was the best part about being drafted by Oakland and has helped ease his way back into football. He is confident he can contribute in the NFL and is excited about the chance to show it to everyone else.

“I can definitely play at this level,” he said. “There’s no doubt about it in my head. I can go out there and be an impact wherever I’m needed. I have the confidence to play in this league and I have the skill to play in this league. Now it’s just to show everyone else that I have the skill to be able to play every day.”

___

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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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