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Nebraska’s Randy Gregory keeps opponents guessing

By WTOP Staff

ERIC OLSON
AP College Football Writer

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s roster officially lists Randy Gregory as a defensive end. It might be better just to call him a playmaker.

Every week the coach of the Cornhuskers’ opponent tells the media it will be crucial to keep track of Gregory. That’s been no small task against a player projected to be a first-round draft pick and whose game has been compared to that of last year’s No. 1 overall choice, Jadeveon Clowney.

The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Gregory has been a down lineman at left and right end, he’s blitzed as a linebacker, he’s lined up as a stand-up rush end on both sides, he’s dropped into pass coverage.

And he just might do something new Saturday night when the No. 19 Huskers (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) visit No. 10 Michigan State (3-1).

“I don’t think I’d put him at corner. Quarterback would be a little scary,” defensive coordinator John Papuchis said, smiling. “We have to move him around and be creative with him. There’s a lot he can do because he’s athletic. He’s smart and he can process a lot of information.”

Gregory is back in top form after he tweaked an old knee injury in the season opener and had minor arthroscopic surgery Aug. 31. The 2013 Big Ten sack champion recorded two against Miami and 2.5 more last week against Illinois, and he thinks he can play even better. He said he’s working on being more explosive with his first two steps after the snap.

“I thought there were some plays I could have made a couple weeks ago and last week that I think I’ll be able to make now, hopefully,” he said. “We’ve got to pick it up. The stakes are even higher this week.”

Gregory played most of his snaps at left end against Miami and at right end against Illinois. It’s anyone’s guess where he’ll be against Michigan State, but if he stays on the right side, he would square off against one of the Big Ten’s best offensive tackles in Jack Conklin.

“It’s a night game with another great Big Ten team, especially for me going against a guy like Randy Gregory,” Conklin said. “It doesn’t get much better for me competition-wise.”

Opponents have tried a variety of tactics to control Gregory, who has 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash and has a 38-inch vertical jump. Assigning two men to block him has created space for linemates Greg McMullen, Vincent Valentine and Maliek Collins to make plays. Running backs have chip-blocked him, tight ends have been used in protection and quarterbacks have sprint out away from Gregory on pass plays.

Gregory said he can tell his movement frequently confuses offensive linemen and throws a wrench in their pass protection. On back-to-back series against Illinois, for example, Gregory shifted between linebacker and right end each play except when the Huskers were in a goal-line situation.

Both his sacks last week came from right end. He used a strong inside move to bust through a double-team for the first one. On the second, he slipped a blocker, lost his grip on Reilly O’Toole’s shoulder on a one-arm tackle attempt and doubled back to bring him down.

Against Miami Gregory was no factor at right end on the first defensive series. On the next one, he went from left end to right end to linebacker on three straight plays and then spent most of the rest of the game attacking from the left side.

For all the ways Gregory has been used, there probably are some different things that will be drawn up to give him a path to Spartans’ quarterback Connor Cook.

“I think we’ve got to throw more things at them, figure out different schemes we can throw at them,” Gregory said, “because over time they’re going to catch on to it.”

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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