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Wilhoite filling the injury void at linebacker

By WTOP Staff

RICK EYMER
Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Michael Wilhoite knows he had important shoes to fill whenever he takes the field.

NaVorro Bowman, out with a knee injury, has been impressed with his replacement.

San Francisco opened the season without two All-Pro linebackers in Bowman and Aldon Smith. Wilhoite helped ease those losses with solid play.

“It’s just confidence in myself,” Wilhoite said Tuesday. “Any time you step on the field, your pride is on the line. I want to go out and play good football.”

Wilhoite was one of the reasons the 49ers held the Philadelphia Eagles to 22 yards rushing on 12 attempts. Frank Gore and Colin Kaepernick each had runs of at least 23 yards.

“I’m very impressed,” Bowman said. “He knows I’m working to get back and he understands his opportunities. This is his chance to show he can play in the NFL.”

Wilhoite knows all about taking advantage of his chances. He went virtually unnoticed at Division II Washburn University but caught on with the Omaha Knighthawks of the UFL, where he was moved from safety to linebacker.

He signed with San Francisco following his only season in the UFL, which featured former NFL coaches, and has steadily progressed.

“Mike is a good coverage linebacker,” Bowman said. “He’s starting to get a feel when he can take a chance or not. That comes with experience.”

For Wilhoite, the biggest adjustment is getting comfortable playing next to Patrick Willis. He says it’s an on-going process.

“We’ll progress every week,” Wilhoite said. “It’s gotten better from Week 1 to Week 2. I get confidence from knowing Patrick has confidence in me. It’s about working together, rep after rep, mistake after mistake, looking at each other and communicating.”

Plenty is going right for the 49ers, who lead the NFC in rushing defense and are second in the NFL in overall defense.

Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs and former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, represents another challenge.

The Chiefs rank second in the AFC and fourth overall in rushing offense.

“It’s only four games and it’s a long season,” Wilhoite said. “We’re playing good defense over the last three games and we’ll try to put on the same performance this week.”

In addition to his tackles, Wilhoite has defended a pair of passes and forced a fumble.

“NaVorro helps me a lot,” Wilhoite said. “He’s always in my ear and pointing out things to look for, things I may not see on the field. NaVorro loves this team and wants to help in any way he can.”

NOTES: Wilhoite was asked about the atmosphere in the 49ers’ locker room, which has been rumored to be in turmoil, and the team’s relationship with coach Jim Harbaugh. “This locker room respects him,” he said. “We like his toughness, the way he likes to grind it out, be physical. That’s been bred into us since he’s been here. We want to stop the run, play good football and play with discipline. We’re getting back on track with that.” … Bowman focused on the basics. “We play. He coaches. We can’t control anything else.” … After giving up 127 yards rushing to the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener, the 49ers have allowed a combined 152 yards in their past three games.

___

AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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