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Youngsters making plays for No. 1 Florida State

By WTOP Staff

KAREEM COPELAND
Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State boasted one of the nation’s top recruiting classes in February, and those freshmen showed last weekend why they were so highly regarded.

Four freshmen and a sophomore helped spark the top-ranked Seminoles, who were on the ropes against North Carolina State.

“Sometimes you don’t emerge when you want to, you emerge when you have to,” coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Those guys are emerging out in that direction.”

Florida State called on defensive end Lorenzo Featherston and hybrid linebacker Jacob Pugh as the Seminoles trailed by double-digits midway through the third quarter.

The defensive front has been battered with nose tackle Niles Lawrence-Stample out for the season and an array of others going down.

— Starting defensive end Mario Edwards, Jr. and backup interior lineman Justin Shanks were both ruled out before the game.

— Replacement nose guard Derrick Mitchell, Jr. went down and did not return from a knee injury.

— Starting defensive tackle Eddie Goldman aggravated an ankle injury, but returned

Featherston (6-foot-7, 294 pounds) and Pugh (6-4, 236 pounds) filled in and changed the game. Featherston forced a fumble late in the third quarter and Pugh recovered. Rashad Greene caught a 4-yard touchdown on the ensuing series to give FSU its first lead of the day. It never trailed afterward.

“Just seeing them go through camp and coming to now, I definitely gave them a lot more trust than I did at the beginning,” senior safety Tyler Hunter said. “At the beginning, they’re new to the system and it’s hard for them to learn. But just week by week they start to pick it up more and more. I’m definitely confident in those guys now.”

Fisher said, “They were the guys that made that key (play) that got us over the hump.”

Offensively, freshman running back Dalvin Cook ran for a 19-yard touchdown after being upgraded to second string due to injury to Mario Pender and sophomore Jesus “Bobo” Wilson had a career day with 109 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Freshman receiver Travis Rudolph, rated the No. 1 wideout in the nation by multiple recruiting sites, caught a 40-yard pass for his first reception.

“It definitely does help when young guys can step on the football field and make an instant impact,” senior running back Karlos Williams said. “It does take a load off some of the older guys who do have a little bit of wear and tear. It shows we have football players that can play and are young. That are learning the offense and are moving forward and can help the team.”

Wilson seems to have grown into the complement to Greene that the offense has desperately searched for. He’s known for his speed and athleticism, but there was a question of how much of the load he could carry on his 5-9, 177-pound frame. Quarterback Jameis Winston raved about Wilson during the offseason, but this was his biggest performance under the lights.

“Really has a lot of ability and is a really smart young man,” Fisher said. “That’s what our offense is based on. You want to take somebody away and you’re 1 on 1 over here, we’re going to go over here. That’s when you can really be aggressive in how you call plays.”

The Seminoles host Wake Forest on Saturday, and the time is now for several youngsters on the FSU roster.

Featherston was listed on the two-deep depth chart for the first time Monday as the backup to Edwards, Jr. Wilson was named the starting slot receiver for the first time before the game.

Fisher has talked about getting Rudolph and fellow freshman Ermon Lane more involved. Freshman Derrick Nndai is the primary backup at nose guard and sophomore DeMarcus Walker is the starter at the hybrid linebacker spot. Pugh is also expected to get more snaps.

Fisher said Edwards (concussion), Mitchell and Pender (concussion) are expected to return this week.

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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