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Jaguars draft WRs Lee, Robinson in 2nd round

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — When quarterback Blake Bortles does become Jacksonville’s starter, he could have quite the supporting cast.

The Jaguars selected receivers Marqise Lee from USC and Allen Robinson from Penn State in the second round of the NFL draft Friday night. The additions likely signal the end of Justin Blackmon’s career in Jacksonville.

They also traded up and drafted Miami guard Brandon Linder in the third round, the latest move in the rebuilding of the team’s offensive line. Jacksonville gave New England a fourth-round pick (No. 105 overall) and a sixth-rounder (No. 179) to take Linder with the 93rd selection.

But the bigger news was Blackmon.

General manager Dave Caldwell indicated the team will consider parting ways with Blackmon if and when he gets reinstated. Blackmon is suspended indefinitely for repeated violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy.

“I think we’ve kind of moved on for this year,” said Caldwell, who said last week he doesn’t expect Blackmon to play in 2014.

The Jaguars can’t cut Blackmon at the moment under NFL rules, and when asked if they could part ways when he gets reinstated, Caldwell added: “If that happens.”

With Blackmon’s future uncertain, the Jaguars wasted little time selecting Lee with the 39th overall pick.

The Jaguars explored trading up as many as six spots to grab Lee in the second round, but when no receivers went off the board in the first few picks, Caldwell and Bradley decided to stay put and take their chances. And Lee was available at No. 39.

“We had our fingers crossed, but it all worked out,” Bradley said. “It obviously helps us. It bring athleticism, it brings playmaking ability to our offense. … He’ll be an exciting player.”

Lee got an endorsement from Jaguars assistant linebackers coach Scottie Hazelton, who coached linebackers at USC in 2012. Hazelton told coaches and scouts that Lee had “absolutely no red flags.”

That made the decision an easy one, especially with the Jaguars trying to upgrade one of the NFL’s worst offenses.

“This is a guy that obviously we had him highly rated. I think the whole country did,” Caldwell said. “But for whatever reason — this is a deep draft — and sometimes players fall. The guy’s a playmaker. When he gets the ball in his hands, he’s electric.

“This is a good draft with good players. Somebody’s got to fall, right? And it just so happened that it was a need for us.”

A huge need given Blackmon’s suspension. And a potential big-time target for Bortles, the third overall pick in the first round who will be groomed for the starting role behind Chad Henne.

The 6-foot, 192-pound Lee caught 248 passes for 3,655 yards and 29 touchdowns in three years with the Trojans. He caught 57 passes for 791 yards and four scores last year despite playing through a knee injury.

“He’s explosive. He can make defenders miss,” Caldwell said. “He’s very instinctive. He’s got a feel for zones. He can separate in and out of breaks very well. When he gets the ball in his hands, he’s a threat to take it to the house. He’s a playmaker, and we need playmakers.”

The Jaguars have had little luck drafting receivers in early rounds, beginning with R. Jay Soward in 2000 and continuing with Reggie Williams (2004), Matt Jones (2005) and Blackmon (2012). All four spent time in the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

The new regime believes things will be different with Lee and Robinson.

The Jaguars spent part of the day decided who to draft between the two. They settled on Lee, and then had a chance to get both.

When Robinson was still available late in the second round, the Jaguars traded up nine spots to get him. They gave San Francisco a third-round pick (No. 70 overall) and a fifth-rounder (No. 150) to choose Robinson with the 61st selection.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Robinson caught 177 passes for 2,474 yards and 17 touchdowns in three years at Penn State. He had 97 receptions for 1,432 yards and six scores last year.

“The addition of these two guys makes a statement that we’re trying to get better now,” Bradley said.

And they’re moving on without Blackmon.

“There are some unknowns there,” Bradley said. “You don’t know how it’s working out. I just don’t want to shut it off. I was hoping that it would be better than maybe where it’s going, but we’ll see. We haven’t heard much and it doesn’t sound like it’s going in the right direction. Just like Dave said: We can’t count on him.”

___

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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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