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Huskies hope pass rush effective vs. California

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP) — There was no plan for the Washington duo of Danny Shelton and Hau’oli Kikaha to turn their preseason goal of trying to get to the quarterback into a friendly competition.

It’s just become that way with the two among the national leaders in sacks after five games.

“We weren’t taking it as an actual wager,” Shelton joked recently.

Through five games, Shelton and Kikaha have provided the pressure Washington was hoping to get from its defensive line. Both players have seven sacks — tied for third nationally — and are likely to get more chances this Saturday when the Huskies return from their bye week against pass-happy California.

It’s the only bye week of the season for Washington (4-1, 0-1 Pac-12) and was a needed rest. After a physical 20-13 loss to Stanford on Sept. 27, the Huskies now face three straight high-tempo offenses: At California, at No. 12 Oregon and vs. No. 20 Arizona State to close out October.

“We’ve got a long season in front of us still to make sure we’re rested up and ready for this grind that’s going to take place,” Washington coach Chris Petersen said. “Nobody else in the conference has one bye. We’re the only team that does, so now we have straight games all the way through. This is going to be hard.”

Seeing Kikaha near the top of the list for sack leaders was expected. The versatile senior played defensive end in recent year before being moved to a hybrid defensive end/linebacker position this year in a scheme brought from Boise State by Petersen and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. Kikaha had 13 sacks as a junior, tied for the second-most in Washington history. He has 24 total sacks in his career and needs six more to tie the school record of 30.

But Shelton being near the top of the list is a bit of a surprise. Shelton’s primary job for much of his Washington career has been using his 6-foot-2, 330-pound frame to try to clog up the middle and stop the run. Getting to the quarterback has been secondary.

What Shelton has is unique quickness for a defensive tackle and that’s led Washington to use him in different spots on the defensive line early this season to see if he can be effective lining up as a defensive end or even a stand-up rusher.

“I think we know what Danny can do, but I think it’s about moving combinations around and still getting him to do what he does well,” Petersen said. “But line him up different ways so not everybody sees going against that guy 40 plays in a row.”

Some of Shelton’s stats are inflated thanks to four sacks against FCS powerhouse Eastern Washington in the Huskies’ second game. But the pass-rush ability seems to be catching the eye of NFL scouts. Shelton has gone from being a possible second-day pick to now a potential first-rounder according to some draft analysts.

Shelton said he never expected to be competing with Kikaha among the sack leaders. He’s the only defensive tackle among the top eight in the country in sacks through five games.

“I’m not going to be complacent. I’m going to continue to work my butt off and get some more sacks,” Shelton said. “My position is super hard to get into the backfield. I’m going to continue to do my job and whatever happens, happens.”

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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