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QBs share spotlight when Auburn visits K-State

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — In many ways, the direction of Kansas State and Auburn the past couple of seasons has been shaped by a surprising decision that Jake Waters made nearly two years ago.

The Wildcats were about to lose senior Heisman Trophy candidate Collin Klein, and coach Bill Snyder wanted to land a junior college quarterback who had a similar dual-threat skillset.

Waters was putting the finishing touches on a record-breaking run at Iowa Western Community College, and most assumed he would continue his career at Penn State. After all, he’d indicated he was leaning that way, despite being vigorously pursued by Kansas State’s coaches.

So hedging his bets, Snyder put the full-court press on Nick Marshall, who had transitioned from defensive back to quarterback at nearby Garden City (Kan.) Community College.

“Just watching him play,” Snyder recalled Tuesday, “he was a talented guy.”

There were rumors that Marshall was about ready to commit when Waters held a press conference on Dec. 13, 2012, and stunned the closely knit recruiting world by choosing the Wildcats.

Suddenly, Marshall was forced to change course. He ultimately settled on Auburn.

On Thursday night, they’ll both be under the spotlight when Marshall leads fifth-ranked Auburn into Manhattan to face Waters and No. 20 Kansas State in a premier nonconference matchup.

“I think if you look at both of our offenses,” Malzahn said last week, “there are some similarities. It helps to have a dual-threat quarterback. That was probably the reason they were after him, and that’s probably the reason he was attracted to them.”

Waters knew all along that Kansas State was interested in Marshall, and that whoever chose first would likely be Snyder’s quarterback of the future. But in the musical chairs of college football recruiting, Waters insists that he never gave it much thought.

“I knew what kind of player he was. And I knew he was getting recruited by Kansas State,” Waters said. “I was just focused on myself and the process for me, trying to make the best decision for me. But I knew about him and what type of player he was.”

It’s hard to argue that things have worked out poorly for either of them.

Waters wrestled the starting job from Daniel Sams last season, leading the Wildcats to seven wins in their final eight games and a victory over Michigan in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

He’s completed better than 61 percent of his passes, third-best in school history, and currently has the top passer efficiency mark. He’s on the watch list for just about every major national award, including the Maxwell and Davy O’Brien awards.

“He’s very good at running the football, but he’s also good at throwing,” Malzahn said. “The ball comes out of his hand really quick. Especially with the ball on the perimeter.”

For all the success that Waters has had, Marshall has trumped him.

After committing to a program that had a new coach in Malzahn and had won just three times the previous season, Marshall quickly made a name for himself. He helped Auburn win their first three games, then bounce back from a loss to LSU with nine more victories, capped by a shootout win over Missouri in the SEC championship to land in the BCS title game.

The second-ranked Tigers had Florida State on the ropes in that game, too, before a fourth-quarter charge by the top-ranked Seminoles resulted in a dramatic 34-31 defeat.

“He was a very good quarterback in high school,” Malzahn said of Marshall, who likewise is being touted for a bevy of national awards. “He fits into what we were looking for.”

Just like he fit into what Kansas State was looking for.

Waters is quick to point out that Thursday night’s game in Manhattan isn’t about just the quarterbacks, though. Sure, they will be in the spotlight, two of college football’s best playing the game’s marquee position. But they are only part of the equation.

“It’s not really just about me or him,” Waters said. “I won’t be out there comparing, ‘I have this many passing yards compared to Nick.’ Or, ‘I’m playing better than him.’ Obviously he’s a great player. He’s going to make plays. He’s a heck of an athlete, he has a great arm. I’ve seen him play. But it’s not about me or him. It’s about K-State and Auburn.”

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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