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Plenty of candidates as Big Ten’s best on offense

By WTOP Staff

RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer

So who’s the best offensive player in the Big Ten?

Yes, the conference has gotten off to a dismal start. And, yes, the season is young.

Ohio State’s Braxton Miller, the Big Ten’s top offensive player the past two years, is out for the season after shoulder surgery. Someone is destined to step into that vacancy.

Yet not many teams in the country would turn down backs like Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah or Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon, or smart quarterbacks such as Christian Hackenberg of Penn State or Michigan State’s Connor Cook.

And Indiana’s Tevin Coleman, Michigan State’s Jeremy Langford, Maryland’s Stefon Diggs, Michigan’s Derrick Green, Minnesota’s David Cobb — and even the freshman who replaced Miller, J.T. Barrett — may all stake a claim.

The conference has many offensive threats. It all comes down to how they’re utilized.

“It’s a little bit about personality and it’s a little bit about what the head coach wants to be on offense,” Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said in assessing the Big Ten’s attacks. “Ultimately, offense comes down to getting the ball into the hands of your playmakers and there’s a lot of different ways to do that.”

Abdullah, a 5-foot-9, 195-pound senior I-back, is averaging 132 yards rushing a game for the conference’s last unbeaten team (3-0). But he’s much more.

“There’s really no weakness in his game. He can do it all,” coach Bo Pelini said. “That’s rare. He can pass-protect, he can catch the ball coming out of the backfield, he can run inside, he can run outside. He’s very versatile and a complete back.”

Gordon, a 6-1, 213-pound junior, is off to a relatively slow start with 178 yards and two TDs in as many games. Don’t be surprised if he explodes soon, possibly this Saturday against Bowling Green.

“I don’t think he drew it up nor did we with the number of yards he’s had to this point, but he’s excited about the opportunity,” coach Gary Andersen said. “We’re looking forward to watching him have a great year.”

Overshadowed so far despite being the nation’s leading rusher is Coleman, averaging 218.5 rushing and 237.5 all-purpose yards a game. He is bidding to become the Hoosiers’ first Big Ten offensive player of the year since Antwaan Randle El in 2001.

Hackenberg was the conference’s freshman of the year in 2013, when he broke one Penn State passing record and 12 school freshman marks for passing while completing 231 of 392 passes for 2,955 yards and 20 TDs with 10 interceptions.

He’s picked up where he left off last season, passing for 361 yards a game to rank seventh in the nation.

“I’ve really only studied one guy this year in particular on tape, just from the standpoint that we didn’t play him a year ago,” Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “That was Christian Hackenberg. He’s a really impressive, impressive young man.”

Hackenberg’s first-year coach, James Franklin, said Hackenberg has the attitude that seems to come as part of the package with top-flight quarterbacks.

“Christian’s got tremendous belief in himself and he’s also willing to sacrifice to be special,” he said. “It’s very, very important to him. And I think that shows up on Saturdays.”

Cook took over as Michigan State’s starter last year and led the Spartans to victories in the Big Ten title game and the Rose Bowl, winning MVP honors in each. So far this season, the junior is completing more than 68 percent of his passes for 314 yards a game for the No. 11 team in the nation.

“He’s leading (the team), he’s got a great arm, he’s got a quick release,” coach Mark Dantonio said. “My feeling is he still has room to grow. That’s what’s so exciting about this. Really, the sky’s the limit for him.”

Running backs Langford, Green and Cobb, quarterback Barrett and receiver Diggs all figure to also be prominent contributors when the Big Ten season kicks off in earnest Sept. 27.

___

Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RustyMillerAP

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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