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No. 8 Baylor has speedy Cannon catching passes

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

WACO, Texas (AP) — See KD run. See KD catch.

That is what Baylor coach Art Briles saw when he watched KD Cannon play a high school game last fall. Now the speedy receiver is already having an impact for the eighth-ranked Bears.

“Not surprised one bit,” Briles said.

Cannon burst past the Northwestern State secondary for TD catches of 50, 81 and 42 yards in the first quarter Saturday night. That pushed the Bears (2-0) to a big early lead on way to a 70-6 victory.

“I never dreamed of nothing like that. Coming into the game, Coach said I was going to get more playing time than I did last week. That was all I was expecting,” Cannon said. “I wasn’t expecting to score three touchdowns in the first quarter.”

Baylor has won 12 consecutive home games, scoring at least 69 points in six of those games. The Bears have won 21 of their 22 games in Waco since 2011, and moved up two spots Sunday in the new AP Top 25 poll.

Even without playing in the second half against the Demons (0-2), Cannon finished with six catches for 223 yards, the second-most in school history. The Baylor record is held by current Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrance Williams, who had 17 catches for 314 yards and two TDs.

Through two college games, the 18-year-old Cannon has eight catches for 282 yards and four touchdowns. That’s an average of 35.3 yards per catch, even with only a 1-yard gain on his last catch against NSU.

After two overwhelming victories to open their new campus riverfront stadium, outscoring SMU and NSU by a combined 115-6, the Bears have another short week of preparation before playing Friday night at Buffalo. That is the first of three consecutive road games, with an open date also in the span, before the next game at McLane Stadium on Oct. 11 against TCU.

Cannon caught all his passes Saturday night from backup quarterback Seth Russell, who completed 16 of 25 passes for 438 yards and five touchdowns while playing only the first half. The 438 yards passing were the most ever for the Bears in a half, as were Cannon’s three TD catches.

Senior quarterback Bryce Petty, the reigning Big 12 offensive player of the year, is still recovering after cracking two small bones in his back in the first series of the series opener. While Petty is eager to get back on the field, Briles isn’t sure if he will be ready to play against Buffalo.

The Bears were also Saturday night without Antwan Goodley (quad) and Levi Norwood (wrist) after they also got hurt in the season opener, while fellow senior receiver Clay Fuller is still recovering from a broken collarbone.

That has just provided extra opportunities early for Cannon and fellow freshman Davion Hall, who has 11 catches for 164 yards and a TD.

“You just never know what’s going to happen. Just like AG (Goodley) going down last game. Just had to be ready for it, to fill in, anytime,” Hall said. “I was just glad I was ready and I learned from them. Just getting better every day.”

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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