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Hunter makes impact in first game for Notre Dame

By WTOP Staff

RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer

Notre Dame finally got a look at Torii Hunter Jr. in a game and now has another receiver to add to an inexperienced group that is falling into place for the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish.

Hunter, who lost his freshman season to lingering effects of a broken leg, caught a touchdown in his first college game Saturday night. The son of the major league star of the same name, Hunter missed the first three games this season with a groin injury.

“He’s a guy that we think we can run the ball with at the receiver position,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said Sunday on a teleconference. “You know, he’s a physical kid. We just think he’s got an all-around skill set. I think in baseball it’s a five-tool player. He’s got all those tools that we’re excited about getting him healthy. I don’t even think he’s at 100 percent yet.”

Hunter was a highly recruited prospect who broke his leg during practice for an elite high school all-star game in 2013. The slow recovery from a gruesome injury cost him last season.

Hunter’s first college catch came in fourth quarter against Syracuse, grabbing a short throw near the sideline and spinning off a defender and into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown that pretty much sealed the Irish’s 31-15 victory.

Hunter’s return came at a time when Notre Dame needed a boost. Amir Carlisle, the Southern California transfer who caught two touchdowns against Michigan, hurt his knee against Purdue and missed the Syracuse game.

Will Fuller was the star among the receivers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Fuller caught two touchdown passes and had 119 yards, earning a game ball.

Early in the game, Fuller took one of the many screen passes Everett Golson threw to blunt Syracuse’s blitzes, but failed to get a first down. Kelly wasn’t happy and let Fuller know he expected more.

Fuller responded by asking for the ball to come his way on a similar play later in the first half. He went 23 yards for a touchdown with that one to open the scoring.

“The first one I cut it up to early,” Fuller said. “The second one I caught I followed my blocks and reversed field.”

Fuller later caught a 72-yard deep ball, badly burning a cornerback one-on-one.

“He’s a young guy that is gaining confidence, and I just think he has a lot of ability that we’re really trying to get him to think in those terms, really believe in himself,” Kelly said. “I believe in him, and I think at times I want him to carry himself in that fashion, that you get me the ball, I’m going to make plays.”

Corey Robinson, the 6-foot-5 son of former NBA star David Robinson, caught eight passes for 91 yards a touchdown.

Notre Dame has been without its most experienced receiver DaVaris Daniels, who is one of five players being held out during a university investigation for academic impropriety. Also being held out are cornerback KeiVarae Russell, defensive end Ishaq Williams, linebacker Kendall Moore and safety Eilar Hardy.

Kelly said Sunday he believes the situation will be resolved by the end of this week.

As for the receivers, Kelly said he likes the way the group is falling into place, with Fuller and possibly Chris Brown as deep threats. C.J. Prosise works on the perimeter as a blocker and a big target at 225 pounds. Carlisle and Hunter fit in the slot. Robinson is a matchup problem in the red zone.

“Now we’re starting to develop some real pieces within that wide receiver corps that we can develop because these are all new guys for us,” Kelly said. “They’re going to be around for a while. These are guys that are underclassmen. So we’re starting to develop some consistency with that group.”

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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