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Texas Tech might start freshman QB at Kansas St

By WTOP Staff

BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury has been here before.

The Red Raiders’ second-year coach has worked with four freshmen starting quarterbacks in the past, mostly with success.

Heading into a matchup at No. 23 Kansas State on Saturday, Kingsbury might have to start freshman Patrick Mahomes, the Texas Associated Press Sports Editors high school football player of the year in 2013.

Sophomore starter Davis Webb is probably a game-day decision after a shoulder injury to his non-throwing arm in the fourth quarter of Texas Tech’s 45-35 loss at Oklahoma State last week.

“Just make sure he can protect himself, really, and operate at a level we need him to operate,” Kingsbury said of what it would take for Webb to play. “But more than anything, that he can handle taking a hit and protect himself.”

A sizeable threat to Webb could be Kansas State defensive end Ryan Miller, who needs one more sack to enter the career top 10 for the Wildcats (3-1, 1-0 Big 12).

He scrambled up the middle on third-and-14 and landed awkwardly on his left forearm. He left the field briefly with trainers holding his left arm gingerly.

Webb, who ranks eighth nationally in yards passing per game (339 yards), wasn’t made available to reporters after Monday’s practice. Kingsbury said Webb’s shoulder was sore Sunday, three days after the Red Raiders (2-2, 0-1) lost in Stillwater.

Kingsbury’s has had success with previous freshman quarterbacks. He coached David Piland at Houston in 2010, Johnny Manziel in 2012 at Texas A&M, and Webb and Baker Mayfield, who transferred to Oklahoma, last year.

This season, it’s Mahomes, the son of Pat Mahomes, who played for six major league baseball teams in an 11-year career. After Webb went out, Mahomes rushed for 16 yards on seven carries and threw for one TD and an interception.

Mahomes is a dual-threat quarterback, but nothing like Manziel, Kingsbury said. Mahomes’ strength is at extending plays.

“I think he just has that knack,” he said. “Anytime we put him in, it’s not always pretty, but he finds a way to move the ball down and put it in the end zone.”

Mahomes figured pitching in baseball — he also played basketball at Whitehouse in East Texas — was his only option beyond high school. But a Texas Tech assistant just happened to be there when Mahomes had an impressive game in a rainstorm and took over the starting job in the third game of his junior season, after playing safety his sophomore year.

Kingsbury’s biggest concern with Mahomes is protecting the football, “as you are with any of those young quarterbacks.”

Bradley Marquez, who leads the Red Raiders’ receiving corps with six touchdowns, said Mahomes is no stranger to starting games.

“That being his first real (college) game action, I mean, it’s to be expected that things may not run as smoothly as maybe they would with Davis, obviously,” the senior receiver said. “There are obviously going to be nerves, but from the perspective as a teammate, I felt like he wanted to go out there and do his absolute best.”

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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