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No. 23 K-State relying on no-name defense

By WTOP Staff

ADAM SUDERMAN
Associated Press

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — As Kansas State coach Bill Snyder reviewed tape of last Saturday’s 58-28 win over UTEP, he caught a glimpse of arguably one of his fastest defenses since his return in 2008.

That speed also showed in a hard-fought, heartbreaking 20-14 loss to fifth-ranked Auburn the previous week. And that makes Snyder feel a bit more comfortable preparing for Texas Tech’s high-octane offense on Saturday night.

“We’re playing faster and that comes with experience, understanding assignments and recognition of things that are in front of you,” Snyder said. “It comes with taking proper pursuit angles and a mindset of playing hard, playing tough and playing aggressive. All of that is in the developmental stages. The progress that is being made is positive.”

So where has all that speed come from? A bunch of unheralded, unknown players who have stepped into starring roles for a defense that has emerged as one of the best in the Big 12.

Travis Green and Dakorey Johnson, two of the reasons for the improved speed on the defense, had never started a game at Kansas State before facing Auburn.

Now, the junior college tandem has cemented their names as part of a unit that finds itself in the top 15 in the nation in rush defense.

“They bring an attitude and they bring it every day, even at practice,” defensive lineman Travis Britz said. “They are willing to work. They are willing to get better every day. So that really helps us get an attitude that we can do anything.”

Green, a teammate of quarterback Jake Waters at Iowa Western Community College, took over the second safety position alongside Dante Barnett. Already, the speedy defensive back has racked up 13 tackles, including one for a loss.

“The switch has already been on since we started,” Green said. “You cannot turn it on and turn it off. It has to be on for every team. At the end of the day, we have to come out with a plan and execute it.”

Johnson’s coming out party occurred when he intercepted Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall, helping him to earn Big 12 defensive player of the week honors. However, the linebacker was injured against UTEP and his status is unknown for Saturday’s game against the Red Raiders.

They aren’t the only relative unknowns on a team stocked with plenty of stars.

As a first-year junior college transfer, Danzel McDaniel was looked at as an immediate impact player at defensive back. Already, he’s lived up to his reputation, blitzing into the backfield from his spot on the corner and lighting up unsuspecting quarterbacks and ball carriers.

His bone-jarring hits have made for quite the collection of highlights.

“I like the way Danzel plays,” Snyder said. “He’s a focused young guy that plays hard. He’s new in our program, so I’m always trying to learn more and more about him. I’ve really appreciated how much it means to him. For him, playing the game is really important. He’s into it and he gets better and better.”

As Waters watches from the sideline, the Kansas State quarterback — himself a relative unknown a year ago — can’t help but marvel what the collection of unsung talent has done on defense.

“They’re consistent right now,” Waters said. “They have some dudes that can fly around. We have some guys that can stop the run; we have a little bit of everything. Our defense is pretty well-balanced and they’re just being consistent in their play and that’s what coach Snyder asks for and what we all want on both sides of the ball.”

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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