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Jaguars go big by drafting Bortles 3rd overall

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell returned home from a scouting trip last October, turned on the television and saw Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger getting pounded by Baltimore.

That’s when it clicked.

Caldwell wanted a big, bulky quarterback who could take a beating.

So UCF’s Blake Bortles became Caldwell’s guy, ranked ahead of Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and everyone other quarterback in the NFL draft.

“As much as you say, ‘Well, you can protect him,’ they’re going to get hit,” Caldwell said Friday as the team formally introduced Bortles. “You have to have a guy that can take a beating.”

Jacksonville surprisingly chose the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Bortles with the third overall pick Thursday night, pointing to his competitiveness and toughness as what stood out during the draft process. Bortles did anything and everything asked of him at the NFL combine in February and was equally impressive on tape and in meetings.

“Just his stature,” coach Gus Bradley said. “It gives him a chance to take some hits.”

Bortles grew up playing tight end, fullback and linebacker in nearby Orlando because he “enjoyed contact.” He reluctantly switched to quarterback in high school, but carried “a little edge” with him to his new position. He flourished at UCF, throwing 50 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions as a two-year starter. He also ran for 557 yards and 14 scores.

“It gives you a little edge,” said Bortles, who never missed time because of injury despite being sacked 51 times in three years at UCF. “It’s not (just) being physical and running into people. It’s having an attitude and competitiveness to you. When it’s third-and-whatever and you’re at the sticks, instead of running out of bounds, run into somebody and get a first down or a touchdown.”

The Jaguars gave up 100 sacks the last two years, and although Bortles won’t be thrown in as a starter, they felt it was important to have someone who could take a hit if needed.

Former Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert failed to stay healthy in three seasons. He missed time with a shoulder injury, a forearm injury, a broken thumb, a sliced-open hand, a strained hamstring and a sprained ankle.

The Jaguars traded Gabbert to San Francisco in March in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. They also re-signed Chad Henne and named him the starter.

Caldwell and Bradley insist Henne will remain the starter while Bortles makes the transition from a spread offense to a pro-style system. It could take months or even a year.

“If you have the right mindset about it, I think you’ll be all right,” Bortles said. “You’re going to practice and prepare and study like you’re the starter whether you’re the second, third or fourth. That is the mindset I’ll have.”

Jacksonville also realizes its offensive line is a work in progress. Caldwell and Bradley want the line to be in better shape when Bortles does take over.

“The great thing about Blake is his athleticism and his ability to keep plays alive,” said Caldwell, who also worked with big quarterbacks in Peyton Manning (Indianapolis) and Matt Ryan (Atlanta). “Everyone’s like, ‘We want an athletic quarterback like Russell Wilson or whoever it might be.’

“Well, he can do a lot of those things, too. Maybe not to that level, but he has really good pocket presence and can keep plays alive with his feet and still be able to throw.”

___

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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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