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Oklahoma WR Shepard becoming a star

By WTOP Staff

CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma receivers coach Jay Norvell believes Sterling Shepard is in an elite category.

That doesn’t mean his star is above some prodding. When Shepard slows down a bit in practice, Norvell sometimes brings up the name of a former Sooner great — Ryan Broyles, the all-time FBS leader in receptions.

“I grabbed him (Shepard) a few weeks ago — he was kind of dragging in practice — and I said, ‘Wait a minute now, you want all this action, you’ve got a lot of work to do.'” Norvell said recently. “I said, ‘Ryan never came out. Ryan was in there every snap.'”

Shepard recognizes the compliment — that he’s being pushed to be the kind of impact player Broyles was.

“I’m my own person, but definitely one of the guys I look up to is Ryan Broyles,” Shepard said. “He holds the record here for most balls caught. That’s something that everyone is gunning for.”

Shepard won’t reach Broyles’ career numbers, but so far this season, Shepard has lived up to Norvell’s expectations by ranking 16th nationally with 109 yards receiving per game. Shepard had eight catches for a career-high 177 yards and a touchdown against Tulsa, five catches for 109 yards against Tennessee and six catches for 101 yards against West Virginia. He has put up those numbers on a team that runs the ball more than it passes.

Shepard currently ranks 11th in Oklahoma history in yards receiving (1,660 yards) and is tied for 13th in receptions (119). To reach Oklahoma’s top 10 lists, he needs 16 catches and 29 yards.

“Sterling is a great talent,” coach Bob Stoops said. “He’s explosive. He’s a great route runner. He’s got great hands. He can make competitive catches. He’s playing great.”

Shepard has primarily been an outside receiver this season after playing last season in the slot.

“I just think he’s added more tools in his tool kit,” Norvell said. “He’s doing different things — he’s playing in the slot, he’s playing outside, he’s returning punts. He’s just doing more, and you know as you become a bigger part of the offense, there’s more responsibility, and he’s taken that on.”

Shepard said he has built a special chemistry with quarterback Trevor Knight. Knight has been willing to throw the ball up and let Shepard make a play.

“He trusts that if it is a bad ball, I’ll try to make it right and I’ll help him out any way possible,” Shepard said. “I showed him over the summer that I was capable of doing those things, and he knows my ability.”

Shepard said his fellow outside receiver and roommate, Durron Neal, has become a solid weapon. Neal has 17 catches for 211 yards this season.

“That’s just Trevor getting the ball around and coach (co-offensive coordinator Josh) Heupel dialing up some plays, getting every receiver involved. Durron’s doing a great job of getting open and catching the ball and making something happen after the catch.”

Shepard understands that the young receivers view him the same way he views Broyles, so he needs to be careful how he carries himself.

“I’m just trying to do what the guys did for me when I was a youngster,” Shepard said. “I’m trying to show them the ropes and show them the way to do things, to be a leader. You have to do everything on point because you have young guys looking at you every day.”

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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP

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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