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Vols focusing on pass protection during off week

By WTOP Staff

STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Now that Tennessee has found its quarterback, the Volunteers must figure out how to protect him.

After using three different starting quarterbacks last season, the Vols have gained stability from the improved production and leadership of Justin Worley, who won a three-way competition for the job in training camp. Worley’s biggest problem thus far has been finding enough time to throw.

Tennessee (2-1) already has allowed nine sacks through the first three games of the season. Only nine of the 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams have yielded more sacks. One of Tennessee’s main objectives during its off week has been to improve its pass protection, particularly after Worley was sacked five times and pressured all night Saturday in a 34-10 loss at No. 4 Oklahoma.

“Justin’s a warrior,” junior center Mack Crowder said. “That game showed it. He got knocked down a lot and got right back up and just kept a calm head on his shoulders and kept delivering the ball the way he was supposed to. In my opinion, Justin’s the best quarterback we could possibly have, and we’re going to keep getting better for him up front.”

The Vols had given up a combined 23 sacks in 2012 and 2013, the Southeastern Conference’s lowest total over that two-year stretch. But it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Tennessee’s having trouble keeping Worley upright this season.

Tennessee lost all five of last year’s starting linemen, and three of them now are on NFL active rosters with a fourth on injured reserve. Tennessee’s offensive line took another hit when starting left tackle Jacob Gilliam tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a season-opening 38-7 victory over Utah State.

The right side of Tennessee’s line against Oklahoma featured two freshmen, with Jashon Robertson at guard and Coleman Thomas making his first career start at tackle. Robertson began training camp on defense before moving to offense. Thomas, primarily a center in high school, is still learning the nuances of playing tackle.

The Vols acknowledge their lack of experience but aren’t using it as an excuse for their early-season problems as they prepare for their Sept. 27 game at No. 13 Georgia.

“It’s not to the standard of what’s expected here, regardless of what it is in terms of how may guys are new or the classification and all those things,” offensive line coach Don Mahoney said. “I’ll never allow that to be a crutch for them.”

A lack of continuity also has been an issue. Tennessee has used a different combination on the line in each of its first three games. Tennessee coach Butch Jones said after the Oklahoma game that he planned to stick with the five who started against the Sooners. That group included junior left tackle Kyler Kerbyson, junior left guard Marcus Jackson, Crowder, Robertson and Thomas.

“We’re always going to compete now,” Jones said. “If an individual isn’t executing and doing their job, it’s all about competition. But I think it’s important moving forward that they know, ‘Hey, here it is, let’s build some consistency and let’s work to get better.’ “

Tennessee remains confident it will get better up front. As tough as Tennessee’s schedule gets the rest of the season, the Vols might not face a better front seven than Oklahoma. As much as they struggled that night, Tennessee’s linemen showed progress as the Oklahoma game wore on. Their desire to learn and improve has impressed the coaching staff.

“I love their workmanlike attitude and I love their approach,” Mahoney said. “We’re just going to keep working and keep grinding away. It’s got to come sooner (rather) than later. We’re going to get there. I know we will because I believe in the guys in the room and I believe in their approach.”

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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