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Receivers standing out as Ohio State retools passing game

By The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday that Parris Campbell is distinguishing himself at receiver, and K.J. Hill, Terry McLaurin and Binjimen Victor are right behind him as the Buckeyes try to breathe some life back into their passing game this spring.

The four wide receivers, along with Austin Mack and Johnnie Dixon, all saw playing time and showed flashes of talent last year, but none broke out as a top playmaker or reliable deep threat as expected. Meyer needs that to change next season, especially after the departure of the team’s two top receivers, H-back Curtis Samuel and wideout Noah Brown.

Campbell, a rising junior who had 13 catches for 121 yards last year, is working at the hybrid running back/receiver position vacated by Samuel. Campbell, Meyer said, “is that guy right now.”

“He’s one of my favorite players,” Meyer said at the halfway point of the team’s spring practice, which culminates in the spring game April 15. “He’s so unselfish, he goes so hard. He deserves a great year. He’s one our best playmakers right now.”

COMPETITION AT RUNNING BACK: Mike Weber, a 1,000-yard running back as a freshman last year, is still locked in as No. 1 on the depth chart, but there has been some movement behind him this spring.

Freshman and early enrollee J.K. Dobbins has leapt sophomore Antonio Williams into the spot behind Weber.

Dobbins, a four-star signee from La Grange, Texas, is battling sophomore Demario McCall for practice reps as Williams continues to recover from a hamstring injury, Meyer said.

“The best thing that can happen is competition,” he said. “We didn’t have any last year (at running back).”

SPEAKING OF INJURIES: Meyer said freshman linebacker Baron Browning suffered a shoulder injury and will have surgery. But Browning is expected to be 100 percent by June and should be good to go for the fall. He’s a highly touted early-enrollee from Kennedale, Texas, who is expected to push for playing time in an experienced linebacker corps.

Defensive tackle Davon Hamilton has a broken foot and will be out of action for several months.

SHEFFIELD LOSES STRIPE: Kendall Sheffield, a junior-college transfer competing to start at cornerback, was the first rookie to lose the black stripe on his helmet. That means he’s worked hard enough to be considered a full-fledged Buckeye.

Sheffield had enrolled at Alabama and red-shirted his freshman season before transferring to Blinn Community College in Texas in search of more playing time. He emerged as the top-rated juco cornerback in the nation.

His maturity may bode well for an Ohio State defensive secondary that lost three of its four starters to the NFL draft.

Based on practice Tuesday, Denzel Ward and Damon Arnette are the top two cornerbacks, with Damon Webb and Erick Smith working at safety. Sheffield is in the corner rotation along with early-enrolled freshmen Shaun Wade and Jeffrey Okudah.

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More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.

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Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacy

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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