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Bears draft RB Carey, S Vereen

By WTOP Staff

GENE CHAMBERLAIN
Associated Press

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears needed a viable safety candidate after drafting Arizona running back K’Deem Carey in the fourth round Saturday, so general manager Phil Emery did something he says he’s reluctant to do: He made a deal.

The Bears traded their fifth-round picks this year and in 2015 for Denver’s fourth rounder and a seventh-rounder, and came away with safety Brock Vereen of Minnesota. The deal highlighted a final day in which the Bears turned their attention to offense and special teams, with the exception of Vereen.

“We started the day saying, ‘Let’s get a running back in this round or a safety,’ and whatever one we don’t get, let’s get back into this round because we’re not going to get that second player if we don’t,” Emery said. “We were happy that (Vereen) was pushed down. Certainly running back is a big part of our offense. We have to have quality players like Matt (Forte) and Ka’Deem to be able to compete and run what we do efficiently.”

After the trade, the Bears closed the final day by picking San Jose State quarterback David Fales and Miami punter Michael O’Donnell in the sixth round and Boise State offensive tackle Charles Leno Jr. in the seventh. Then they added an intriguing player from nearby by getting an agreement from undrafted free agent quarterback Jordan Lynch of Northern Illinois, a former Heisman Trophy candidate, to become a Bear.

Vereen, the brother of Patriots running back Shane Vereen, projects as a free safety with Chicago after playing every defensive secondary position with Minnesota, including seven games at cornerback and six at safety as a senior.

“I felt comfortable at both, I made plays at both,” Vereen said. “Whichever one the Bears think I need to play to help them out the most, I’ll be more than happy to be there.”

Because his brother plays in the NFL and his father, Henry, was a ninth-round draft pick as a running back and receiver with Tampa Bay, Vereen said little in the game has felt new to him through his career.

“I feel like I’ve been able to watch football on an advanced level for a long time because I’ve been able to see the game through his eyes and my dad’s eyes, as well. And I have a better understanding of the game than some people had in high school and even more recently in college.”

Carey was chosen with the 117th overall pick. The 5-foot-9, 207-pounder skipped his senior year to come out for the draft. Carey was chosen the Pac-12 offensive player of the year and finished with 22 100-yard rushing games and an average of 117.8 yards rushing per game.

Carey compares his running style to 49ers back Frank Gore, and will be a backup behind 28-year-old veteran Matt Forte.

“Me being a youngster and being a rookie, I get to have the opportunity to play behind him and learn off a great running back,” Carey said.

At Arizona, Carey faced charges that were quickly dropped following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend. Later, he was removed from a men’s basketball game after confronting a university staff worker. Emery said he’s satisfied Carey has matured beyond these incidents, and Carey agrees.

“It’s in the past, it’s something you have to learn from,” Carey said.

Fales is viewed as third quarterback competition for Jerrod Johnson behind backup Jordan Palmer. He led the NCAA in completion percentage as a junior (.725) and completed 66 touchdown passes.

The other QB, Lynch, doesn’t necessarily strike Emery as a passer to develop under Bears coach Marc Trestman, but it’s too soon to announce plans for him.

“I think he’s a really fine runner,” Emery said. “I think the fact he can throw and throw with accuracy in a short area is good, too.

“I think you want as many athletes who can do as many things as possible and he certainly presents options that way.”

O’Donnell is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound punter who averaged a school-record 47.1 yards at Miami as a senior. The Bears have a need for a punter after letting go of Adam Podlesh.

Leno, who is 6-3 1/2, 302, is slated to compete at backup left tackle behind starter Jermon Bushrod.

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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