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Arizona getting big boost from Wilson

By WTOP Staff

ANTHONY GIMINO
Associated Press

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona running back Nick Wilson is right on the heels of two-time All-American Ka’Deem Carey so far in his short career.

Carey, a fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears, averaged 152.6 yards per game his last two seasons at Arizona. Wilson is at 149.7 through his first three games.

Not bad for a true freshman.

“I call him ‘Little Ka’Deem,’ with the way I see him run out there,'” Wildcats junior safety Will Parks said. “It’s pretty awesome. The first play from scrimmage in camp, he took it about 40 yards. When I had seen it, I was like, ‘We might have a little something right here.'”

For Arizona, Wilson has been the right guy at the right time in the right offense.

He rushed for 104 yards on seven carries as a backup in the opener against UNLV, then took over the starting role when Terris Jones-Grigsby had to sit because of an ankle injury.

Wilson has turned into a Carey-like workhorse in the past two games: 30 carries for 174 yards at UTSA, and 29 carries for 171 yards against Nevada.

“I get a little banged-up,” he said of the workload, “but it’s nothing a cold tub can’t fix.”

Wilson and the 3-0 Wildcats begin Pac-12 play Saturday night against Cal.

With Wilson’s help, Arizona has produced a 100-yard rusher in 20 consecutive games in coach Rich Rodriguez’s run-based, hurry-up spread offense. That’s the longest streak for an FBS team since 1996.

“It’s been mind-blowing in a way,” Wilson said of his early success. “But for the most part I just try to keep my composure. Some of my teammates try to hype me up, but I just go to my room and watch Netflix. I’m kind of to myself.”

Wilson has the most carries (66 for 449 yards) of any freshman running back in the country. He is seventh nationally in rushing, second among freshman backs behind Jarvion Franklin of Western Michigan.

Rodriguez and Calvin Magee, the team’s running backs coach and co-offensive coordinator, said Wilson is unusual for a freshman in two ways: He has great vision at the line of scrimmage, and he’s a full-service running back who doesn’t need to be taken out on passing downs.

“So many freshmen come in just used to running and they do a lot of what I call ‘taking the cheese’ — they take holes that look to be there but aren’t there,” Magee said. “It’s important to get past taking the cheese.”

A four-star recruit from Central East High in Fresno, California, Wilson didn’t generate a lot of recruiting buzz because he committed early, in March 2013, and battled injuries as a senior.

When Carey left after his junior season, the 5-foot-10, 199-pound Wilson became part of a wide-open six-player competition in camp.

“He’s a freshman and is still learning, but he runs hard,” Rodriguez said. “Nick is a smart football guy, and the competition we have at running back is keeping everybody on their toes.”

It’s not clear when Jones-Grigsby, a fifth-year senior who ran 13 times for a team-high 124 yards in the opener, will be back. Meanwhile, Wilson continues to further earn the trust of coaches with his production and mature approach to the game.

“My vision has improved tremendously,” Wilson said. “I see things I don’t normally see. In my old high school habits, I kind of forced things to try to make things happen. But with the help of Coach Magee and some of my fellow running backs, I have been very successful in the last few weeks.”

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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