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Rutgers receiver Leonte Carroo having big year

By WTOP Staff

MATT SUGAM
Associated Press

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Leonte Carroo didn’t impress Gary Nova when they met roughly seven years ago.

“I remember I was going into my freshman year, he was in eighth grade, it was a (Don) Bosco football camp,” Nova said. “He was there in a big white T-shirt, cleats that looked like they were eight years old.”

Based on what he saw, Nova concluded that Carroo wasn’t going to be a good football player. Then the Edison, N.J. native started running routes and catching passes, and the quarterback’s view of the receiver quickly changed, realizing Carroo was the best player on the field.

In the years since, Nova and Carroo formed a dynamic combination that started at Don Bosco Prep. It has continued at Rutgers, where the two have helped the Scarlet Knights (4-1) get off to a great start heading into Saturday’s Big Ten Conference game against struggling Michigan (2-3).

“I was just clueless and wanted to play football,” Carroo said of their first meeting. “I was just going out there running around and just playing and I think that’s what the Bosco coaches liked about me.”

Caroo said he really didn’t care about new gloves or cleats.

“As I started to become a solid player people were like, ‘Alright you have to start looking good out there on the field, so let’s get you some swag,'” he said.

Dressed in a tight red Rutgers warmup suit with a pair of fluorescent sneakers from Kevin Durant’s shoe line, Carroo’s appearance has improved. But the playful ribbing continues between Carroo, Nova and fellow Don Bosco alum Darius Hamilton.

“Why’s that shirt so tight?” Nova asked Carrroo while pretending to be a reporter.

The trio is still as close as they were in high school off the field. And the chemistry between quarterback and wide receiver is seen every Saturday.

“He could have four guys on him and Gary will throw it to him and Leonte usually comes up with it,” offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen said over the summer.

Carroo has 25 catches on 40 targets and five touchdowns, all of which lead the team. His 475 yards rank third in the Big Ten behind Penn State’s DaeSean Hamilton and Geno Lewis.

A junior, Carroo is seventh in career touchdown catches with 14 in just 15 games at wide receiver, and is six touchdowns away from tying Tim Brown’s record.

The speedy Carroo says his knack for finding the end zone has to do with his will to score. You wouldn’t know it, though, based on his mundane TD celebration of simply handing the ball to a referee. That’s a habit he formed in Pop Warner after his first touchdown ever.

“I caught like a 60-yard post and as soon as I got in the end zone I spiked it,” Carroo said. “A flag came and it got called back and I was crying.”

Now, he’s also learned about giving opponents bulletin board material. Prior to the Penn State game, Carroo responded to comments made by Nittany Lions running back Bill Belton over the summer of why he chose Penn State over Rutgers.

“(He’s) quoted as saying he wanted to go to Penn State because he wanted to play ‘big-time football’ instead of staying home,” Carroo said. “Well, I guess we’re going to have to show him that he made a terrible decision.”

Belton went on to score the game-winning touchdown, and called out Carroo and safety Jonathan Aiken after the game for their verbal jabs during the week.

This week, Carroo will face his former high school teammate Jabrill Peppers. Michigan’s freshman cornerback was one of the top recruits in the country.

Carroo wouldn’t take the bait when asked several questions about playing Peppers.

“I want to go against the best corners. I hope the best corners line up against me. I hope they press me. I hope they play me man to man coverage,” Carroo said. “I like the big stage. I like to go against whoever the best is.”

He’s succeeded when doing so. And just like when he was an eighth grader, his physical appearance doesn’t matter to him.

“I still just go out there and play. I really still don’t care about looking pretty or anything on the field,” Carroo said. “I just want to go out there and play.”

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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