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Auburn defense readies for Mississippi State QB

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn’s defense has improved dramatically since the last time the Tigers faced Dak Prescott.

Then again, so has Prescott. That was long before the 6-foot-2, 230-pound star for No. 3 Mississippi State emerged as the Southeastern Conference’s hottest quarterback and the biggest challenge the second-ranked Tigers have faced this season.

“This will be the first quarterback in a while with that size and caliber,” Auburn cornerback Johnathon Mincy said.

Known more for offense, the Tigers (5-0, 2-0 SEC) have had one of the league’s best defenses so far this season but have only faced two quarterbacks ranked in the Top 100 nationally in total offense.

A much truer test of Auburn’s defense comes Saturday versus Prescott, who’s ninth in that category and has produced three straight games with 200 passing yards and 100 rushing yards.

The first time Prescott managed that feat was last season against Auburn, in the second start of his college career and first against an FBS team.

The Tigers won on a touchdown pass from Nick Marshall to C.J. Uzomah in the final seconds.

Both Prescott and Auburn’s defense have gotten better since then, and they’ll leave Saturday’s game with a clearer idea of just how far they’ve come.

An Auburn front line that is big and deep has to try to keep Prescott from bulldozing through, and he’ll challenge a youthful secondary, too.

“He puts a tremendous amount of pressure on you,” Auburn defensive tackle Gabe Wright said. “He is a dual-threat quarterback and just saying that, I think that in itself already speaks volumes. Dual-threat means he can both run and pass. And he’s mentally capable to run their offense now. I think he’s more comfortable now. “

Auburn went to last season’s national championship game with a high-powered offense and a defense that came up big in some clutch situations while facing a Who’s Who lineup up quarterbacks that included Heisman Trophy winners Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston and 2013 runner-up AJ McCarron.

Now, the defenders are more than holding their own in the second season under coordinator Ellis Johnson against a lesser-known group of quarterbacks.

Auburn ranks among the league’s top three teams in scoring, total and run defense. The Tigers, who are ninth nationally in scoring defense, have allowed 21 or fewer points for five straight games for the first time since doing it eight times in a row from 2007-08.

A bigger number for Johnson is the missed assignments. He said the Tigers were plagued with 25-30 a game this time last season and now are more likely in the 8-10 range.

Auburn doesn’t have a dominant pass rusher like Dee Ford last year, but has started 300-pounders Gabe Wright and Montravius Adams both inside and out and has a nine-man rotation plus linebackers Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy. No opposing running back — or quarterback, for that matter — has gained 100 yards against Auburn this season. That includes Arkansas’ Alex Collins (68 yards).

Auburn didn’t allow dual-threat Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters any success running, though he passed for 245 yards.

The Tigers shut down young LSU quarterbacks Brandon Harris and Anthony Jennings last Saturday. But Prescott has thrust himself squarely into the early Heisman Trophy conversation with huge games against the SEC’s LSU and Texas A&M.

“This week, we’re going to be playing a quarterback who may be the best in the country at running the offense he runs,” said Johnson, who was Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator from 2004-07. “It’s going to be a whole different deal. He’s a veteran. He had about eight starts last year and he’s playing really well this year and we’re going to be playing at their place instead of our place.

“I’m certainly not taking anything away from the effort and the accomplishment of our players. I think we did a great job and I’m really proud of them, but the test is going to get a lot tougher.”

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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