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Bengals get RB Hill in 2nd round, DE Clarke in 3rd

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Running back Jeremy Hill wrote a lengthy letter to all 32 NFL teams, telling them he wouldn’t be a problem if they drafted him. The Bengals took him at his word.

Cincinnati chose Hill in the second round on Friday night, showing their commitment to running the ball under new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. He fit the power profile they wanted for a runner. They weren’t very concerned about his problems at LSU.

“He comes here with a skill set and knowledge of the game,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “That will allow him to be really productive early in his career here. He’s a big man that can run and catch. That’s something we wanted, to add another strong runner to our team.”

The Bengals took defensive end Will Clarke from West Virginia in the third round, restocking a line that lost end Michael Johnson to free agency. Two of their first three picks filled their biggest needs on defense.

It’s the second year in a row that the Bengals have taken a running back in the second round. They got Giovani Bernard with the 37th overall pick last year. They also return power runner BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

No running back was taken until the 54th overall pick on Friday, when Bishop Sankey went to Tennessee. The Bengals took Hill with the next pick, and Ohio State’s Carlos Hyde went to San Francisco with the 57th pick as teams made a run on the position.

Hill didn’t lose a fumble at LSU. He also can catch the ball, something Cincinnati values in its West Coast offense. Green-Ellis caught only four passes last season, while Bernard caught 56. The tandem of Hill and Bernard give the Bengals a young duo in the backfield that can do a little bit of everything.

“He can catch the ball,” Jackson said. “He really demonstrated that on his pro day. They split him out and he caught passes.”

The biggest concern involved his off-field problems. Video showed Hill punching a man outside a bar in April. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and was sentenced to community service. He already was on probation from a misdemeanor involving a sexual relationship with a girl at his high school.

That’s why Hill wrote the note to every team.

“A lot of people, especially the analysts, had me going in the fourth or fifth round with off-field character issues and things,” Hill said. “I wanted to let them know I wasn’t trying to hide anything. Anything that’s out there, it’s open game. I was a young man who made mistakes. I don’t know any young man who hasn’t made mistakes.”

Cincinnati split its first two picks between defense and offense.

The Bengals chose cornerback Darqueze Dennard with the 24th overall pick on Thursday night, adding some youth to the oldest position in the team. Dennard won the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation’s top defensive back.

They felt better about the defensive end spot when they were able to get Clarke.

Johnson left for Tampa Bay as a free agent after developing into a formidable pass rusher and pass blocker. The 6-foot-7 end was known for deflecting passes. At 6-foot-6, Clarke shares some of his characteristics. The Bengals are hoping he’ll put on some weight — he’s 271 pounds — and grow into the same type of disruptive player.

Last year, the Bengals 6-foot-8, 280-pound defensive end Margus Hunt in the second round. Clarke gives them another tall pass rusher.

“He’s a prototype for what we look for in defensive ends,” coordinator Paul Guenther said. “There’s not many of those guys in the draft.”

Clarke started all 12 games for West Virginia last season and had 17 tackles for losses, six sacks and three passes batted down — reminiscent of Johnson.

“I think there are some comparisons (to Johnson), but let’s compare him in two or three seasons,” Lewis said. “Michael grew into that and did a nice job here, which is what we want. We want to continue to grow great players.”

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Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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