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49ers draft South Carolina WR Ellington

By WTOP Staff

CRAIG MASSEI
Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers waited until the fourth round Saturday to add the speedy vertical threat to their passing game that many expected them to grab near the top of the NFL draft.

Two-sport star Bruce Ellington may prove worth the wait.

The 49ers selected the South Carolina product with the 106th overall pick in the fourth round, bringing to San Francisco an explosive prospect that will challenge for a regular role in the team’s passing game behind starters Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree.

San Francisco’s top priorities entering the draft were filling voids at wide receiver and cornerback. The 49ers didn’t address those two positions during the first three rounds.

But they focused on those positions Saturday, selecting cornerbacks Dontae Johnson of North Carolina State, Keith Reaser of Florida Atlantic and Kenneth Acker of Southern Methodist with three of their next four picks after Ellington.

“You let the board talk to you,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “That was something that we did today, and we also let some of the needs that we have on our team do some talking to us as well.”

South Florida defensive end Aaron Lynch was selected in the fifth round before Reaser. The 49ers selected another defensive end, Boston College’s Kaleb Ramsey, in the seventh round before taking Oklahoma fullback Trey Millard two selections later to complete their 12-player draft class.

But the key catch of the day was Ellington. The 49ers always are on the lookout for athletes in the draft, and Ellington displayed his merit in college on both the football field and basketball court, where he was a three-year starter at point guard.

He also was a two-year starter at wide receiver for the Gamecocks after not playing football as a freshman. But as Ellington developed on the gridiron, he determined his future as a professional was there. He led South Carolina last season in receptions (49), receiving yards (775) and touchdown receptions (8) while averaging 15.8 yards per catch.

“I finally realized football is what I want to do,” Ellington said. “It was pretty difficult because I love to compete and I love playing both sports. They just told me to come in here and be ready to compete. I’m going to be ready to do that and ready to come in and help build the program even better than what it is now.”

Ellington brings to San Francisco’s program the field-stretching speed and athletic burst the 49ers are looking to add to an attack that ranked 30th in the NFL last season in passing offense.

He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds at the NFL combine. He also had a vertical leap of 39.5 inches.

“You don’t play two sports and major college football at the level he did without having something special about you,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said. “He’s a skilled athlete. He’s a competitive athlete. He’s a smart and instinctive athlete. If you put all that together, you’ve got a pretty good package.”

Harbaugh said he got a special recommendation for Ellington from his brother-in-law, Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean. Baalke later said, “Coach Crean said we probably have the best point guard in the National Football League.”

The 49ers have been seeking a legitimate speed element in their passing game since Harbaugh arrived to coach the team in 2011. That component was sorely lacking most of last season, when Crabtree missed the first 11 games after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in May.

San Francisco was expected to use one or more of its early selections on a wide receiver. But after signing veteran Brandon Lloyd during the offseason and trading a 2015 draft pick to Buffalo on Friday to acquire veteran Stevie Johnson, the 49ers instead finally tapped the position on the draft’s final day.

“I know those guys can play, and I’m going to learn from them,” Ellington said. “They’re going to help me become a better player. I feel like I have a lot of growth because I’ve only played (receiver) for three years. There’s a lot more things that I can put in my game and become a better player.”

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Online:

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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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