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No. 11 Mississippi leans on strong defense

By WTOP Staff

DAVID BRANDT
AP Sports Writer

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi’s offense is a little inconsistent and the special teams suddenly have some problems.

But through four games, one thing has been clear: These 11th-ranked Rebels are capable of playing outstanding defense.

Ole Miss (4-0) ranks third nationally and first in the Southeastern Conference in scoring defense, giving up just 8.5 points per game. The Rebels held Memphis to just 104 total yards in a 24-3 victory on Saturday night.

“We have worked really hard for three years and it’s paying off,” Ole Miss senior safety Cody Prewitt said after Saturday’s game. “I’m really excited about where we are. Tonight, on defense, we had a really solid game. We really see what potential we have and the things we can reach.”

Now the schedule is about to get much, much tougher as the Rebels start their slog through the brutal SEC Western Division. The Rebels host No. 3 Alabama (4-0) this Saturday in the biggest home game in a decade.

Ole Miss will also face Texas A&M, Tennessee and LSU before October is over. It’s a stretch that should go a long way toward determining if the Rebels are an actual SEC contender.

Their defense should give them a chance. It’s a group that’s a mix of veterans and younger guys, former five-star recruits and unheralded no-names.

The 6-foot-2, 217-pound Prewitt has been at Ole Miss since 2011, which was the brutal final season under coach Houston Nutt that saw the Rebels finish with a 2-10 record.

Three years later, it’s a different story. New coach Hugh Freeze brought in veteran defensive coordinator Dave Wommack in 2012, and the Ole Miss defense has steadily improved. Prewitt was an All-American last season and anchors the secondary.

Wommack said the entire defense is playing well right now, but it’s the line that’s creating the most havoc.

C.J. Johnson and Robert Nkemdiche are the big names up front — former highly rated recruits who are performing at an elite level.

But it’s the depth that makes the group most dangerous. The biggest play during Saturday’s win was when backup freshman Marquis Haynes smashed into Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch, forcing a fumble that was picked up by Issac Gross. Gross is listed as a third-team player on the depth chart.

The turnover set up a short touchdown drive for the offense.

“There’s no question with any team in this league — if you don’t have a defensive line you have no chance,” Wommack said. “And we’ve been able to develop some depth there. We’re playing about 11 guys so we can keep them fresh and keep them going.”

Ole Miss has nine interceptions through four games, including three by senior cornerback Senquez Golson. Wommack says the group is physically talented, but it’s the players’ desire to learn and mental approach that is most exciting.

“These kids are listening and they want to do better,” Wommack said. “They feel different about themselves.”

Freeze admitted the win over Memphis was difficult for a few reasons. He said the Tigers are a much-improved team and that it was also hard to avoid the incessant talk about the coming showdown with Alabama.

Thanks to the defense, the Rebels can finally concentrate on the biggest home game in Oxford since LSU and Ole Miss met with the SEC Western Division title on the line in 2003.

“Now everybody can do whatever talking they want to do,” Freeze said.

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Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP

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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