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K-State’s Lockett closing on dad’s school record

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Many stars refuse to admit they look at the players they’re passing on the slow climb through the record books. They’ll speak in platitudes about focusing on the team first, the individual second, and shrug off most of their achievements.

Tyler Lockett knows exactly where he stands in Kansas State’s record books.

It isn’t for a lack of humility, though. Lockett is about the most humble guy you’ll come across. It’s simply that he knows quite well whom he just passed on the career yards receiving list this weekend — his uncle, former Kansas State star Aaron Lockett.

He also knows which player he’s chasing for first place: his father, Kevin Lockett.

“It’s a great achievement, a great accomplishment, but I just look at it like that’s an individual thing I can look back on at the end of the season,” Lockett said, “but right now, I just want to help us win every game we can.”

OK, so he still speaks in platitudes. But the latest of the Lockett family to come through No. 23 Kansas State may just be the best of them. With four catches for 84 yards in the Wildcats’ 58-28 victory over UTEP on Saturday, Lockett climbed to third in school history with 2,469 yards receiving. The Packers’ Jordy Nelson is next, followed by his pops with 3,032.

Kevin Lockett makes sure to remind the youngster the record is still a ways off, too.

“He’ll say, ‘You’re still not better than me,'” Tyler Lockett said with a broad grin, “and it’ll stay that way unless I beat it.”

Even if it’s all in jest, his uncle seems to be a bit more receptive to getting shoved down the list. Aaron Lockett made a rare trip back to Kansas State this week, and spent some time with his nephew. In fact, it was Aaron Lockett who pointed out his number would soon topple.

“We haven’t talked about that and very seldom do,” Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said, “but I’m sure it has some meaning for him. I’m quite certain it has some meaning for Aaron and Kevin.

“Excellent family,” Snyder added. “Good players, better people.”

Tyler Lockett’s exploits aren’t limited to catching the ball, either.

He returned his first punt for a touchdown on Saturday, only to watch it get called back by a penalty. No matter. He took another one back 58 yards for a touchdown later in the game, and then added a 51-yard return just before halftime that set up another score.

Lockett, who has returned four kickoffs for touchdowns, finished the game with 143 yards on punt returns. That’s just 30 yards shy of David Allen’s single-game school record.

“Tyler did a nice job of being able to sort and pick his way through,” said Snyder, always reticent to lavish too much praise immediately after a game. “He did some excellent things.”

Lockett could conceivably hold several other schools records by the time he’s done, even though the senior wide receiver has missed games over the years with several minor injuries.

He has 19 touchdown receptions, fourth most behind Nelson, Quincy Morgan and — you guessed it — dear old dad, who caught 26 of them from 1993-96. He also has 160 receptions, trailing Michael Smith, Nelson and Kevin Lockett — though that one might be safe. Kevin Lockett caught 217 passes over his career, back when Kansas State was just becoming a national power.

He’s also tied for first in school history with 10 100-yard receiving games.

“It’s awesome. It’s such a special thing for Tyler,” Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters said. “He deserves it because he works so hard.”

Given that Lockett refuses to discuss such records, and that Snyder tends to avoid any such talk regardless of the player, leave it to his teammates to puff him up.

“I knew Tyler’s first summer here, it didn’t take a very long look to know he’d be very good, and he was his freshman year, and better his sophomore year,” said former Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, now an assistant on the Wildcats’ coaching staff. “He just keeps growing by leaps and bounds, and I don’t know if there is a ceiling to his potential.”

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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