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Bears draft LSU DT Ferguson in second round

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Phil Emery still sees some holes, some issues to address, so the Chicago Bears’ general manager wasn’t quite ready to declare the makeover on defense complete.

He likes the progress, though.

The Bears drafted two defensive tackles Friday, grabbing LSU’s Ego Ferguson in the second round and Arizona State’s Will Sutton in the third, the latest moves to transform a defense that ranked among the league’s worst.

“We’ve got an opportunity to be better because of the overall group of personnel that we brought in,” Emery said. “We’ve brought in some quality ends, a couple young (defensive) ends. We’ve still got to add to that group.”

The Bears have been busy retooling a unit that ranked among the league’s worst in an effort to jump to the playoffs after missing out for the sixth time in seven years. They went 8-8 last season.

Chicago addressed the line Friday, taking Ferguson with the 51st pick and adding Sutton at No. 82, after grabbing Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller with the 14th pick the previous day.

The Bears also have a fourth-rounder (117), fifth-rounder (156) and two sixth-rounders (183 and 191) on Saturday.

The 6-foot-3, 315-pound Ferguson brings size and athleticism, but is also considered raw after leaving school a year early. He was suspended from the Outback Bowl against Iowa for violating team rules and did not work out at the NFL combine because of a right ankle injury he suffered in the days leading up to it.

Ferguson decided to turn pro because his mother Brenda injured her back breaking up a fight at a detention center where she works.

“At the end of the day, she wasn’t able to work and I knew that my family needed me,” he said.

The Bears hope he can help turn around a defense that struggled in a big way last season.

When he visited the Bears, Ferguson said he talked at length with defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni. One thing Pasqualoni wanted to know was how comfortable Ferguson is playing head up over the guard, an indication that Chicago will mix up looks.

“We were basically talking ball for a long time, and he was asking me can I play the two technique,” Ferguson said. “Can I do it? He said that’s what they want me for, and he showed a lot of interest.”

Sutton, meanwhile, was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year the past two seasons, but his weight jumped last year and his production went down. His tackles dropped from 63 as a junior to 48 and his sacks from 13 to four.

“I was just getting information saying, ‘You’re too small for the NFL,'” said Sutton, who went from 285 pounds as a junior to 320 as a senior.

He said he’s at 290, which is about where the Bears want him.

Chicago is overhauling its defense after it ranked 30th overall, last against the run and tied Jacksonville with a league-low 31 sacks. The Bears gave up 2,583 yards rushing on 5.3 per carry — both club records — and they still had plenty of holes to fill entering the draft even after a flurry of moves.

The headliner, of course, was letting Julius Peppers go and signing Jared Allen from Minnesota in what amounted to a swap of accomplished defensive ends. They also added defensive ends Lamarr Houston and Willie Young along with safeties Ryan Mundy and M.D. Jennings. They brought back cornerback Charles Tillman on a one-year deal, re-signed defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff to a two-year contract and split with safety Major Wright.

All the activity is reminiscent of what the Bears did a year ago, when they gave their offensive line a new look. If the results this time around are similar, the Bears will take that.

In Fuller, they believe they have a versatile cornerback who can contribute next season and move into a starting role.

Ferguson figures to back up Ratliff and Nate Collins assuming he’s ready after missing most of last season with a knee injury and could push Stephen Paea for time. In his first year as a starter last season, Ferguson had 58 tackles. His main job was to occupy multiple blockers, creating chances for linebackers to make plays.

“I feel like I have a lot of upside,” Ferguson said. “I feel like a lot of people didn’t realize how athletic I was. My ability to move around out there (was better) than people thought it was. I just feel like I got a perfect opportunity with a perfect team, and I just want to make the best of it.”

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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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