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LSU’s Miles: Freshman QB to start vs. Auburn

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

After leading touchdown drives on nine of his last 10 series in a backup role, LSU freshman quarterback Brandon Harris is slated to make his first start in the 15th-ranked Tigers’ first Southeastern Conference road game of the season at No. 5 Auburn this Saturday.

LSU coach Les Miles announced the change in the pecking order on Monday, two days after Anthony Jennings, who started the first five games for LSU (4-1) had arguably his worst outings of the season before Harris entered the game and led seven straight touchdown drives.

“It stands to reason that (Harris) will get the first snaps in the next game,” Miles said. “He has done the things we have asked him to do. He has made quality decisions with the ball.”

However, the LSU defense will be without one of its statistical leaders for the game and likely for the rest of the season.

A person familiar with the situation said safety Dwayne Thomas, who was helped off the field Saturday night against New Mexico State, has a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because LSU has not announced Thomas’ injury.

Thomas, a redshirt sophomore, did not start but played regularly. His 24 tackles rank fifth on the team. He also has 1 1/2 sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. Freshman Jamal Adams could see more playing time in six-defensive back, or “dime” formations during Thomas’ absence.

As for Harris, his performance has ranged from efficient to spectacular since he relieved Jennings in the final five minutes of LSU’s 34-29 loss to Mississippi State two weekends ago.

Jennings completed 13 of 26 passes for 157 yards in that game, which he left in the fourth quarter with LSU behind 34-16.

Upon taking the field, Harris quickly marched the Tigers 95 yards, capped by a 31-yard scoring pass to Malachi Dupre. And after LSU recovered a fumbled snap, Harris hit Dupree with a 30-yard scoring strike to put the Tigers within one score with 1:27 left.

LSU got the ball back once more on its own 20 with 20 seconds left, and Harris quickly moved the Tigers across midfield to set up a failed Hail Mary attempt, marking the only time in Harris’ last 10 series in which the Tigers failed to reach the end zone.

“It’s just more about staying focused and not getting complacent about a little success,” Harris said following last Saturday’s victory over New Mexico State. “I knew when my opportunity came I wanted to make the most of it just to show everybody, and show the coaching staff that I could play.”

Harris’ success against New Mexico State immediately followed a miserable stint for Jennings, who committed three turnovers — two interceptions and one fumble — on LSU’s first seven offensive series of the game. Harris followed with seven straight touchdown drives in which the strong-armed QB with the quick feet threw three touchdown passes and ran for two scores.

“Harris has some ad-lib to his game which is very, very positive,” Miles said. “He is really fast and can really throw the ball. He can extend a play so really good things can happen.”

Jennings has completed 51 percent of his passes (42-of-83) this season for 734 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions. In a smaller body of work, Harris has completed 73 percent (22-of-30) for 394 yards and six touchdowns with one interception.

“I am comfortable with Brandon as the starter,” senior tailback Terrence Magee said. “I told Brandon after the game Saturday to stay focused and stay humble. He just needs to continue to grow in the offense.”

___

Bryan Lazare contributed to this story from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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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