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Busy day nets Seattle 7 players, 4 on defense

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Kevin Norwood’s pre-draft interaction with the Seattle Seahawks amounted to one conversation.

“And that was for them to get my information,” Norwood said.

Once again, Seattle general manager John Schneider was able to keep secret one of the Seahawks’ targets in the NFL draft. This time, it was a player he expected to be gone by the time Seattle got its chance.

Norwood was one of three selections by the Seahawks in the fourth round Saturday, part of a day that saw the Super Bowl champions make seven selections. Schneider wasn’t looking for another receiver after Seattle took speedy Paul Richardson out of Colorado in the second round on Friday. But with Norwood’s 6-foot-2 frame and Alabama pedigree sitting there, the pick was easy to make.

“He’s just a stud. He’s a stud kid, background, everything he’s had to overcome. He was such a reliable guy for them,” Schneider said.

Seattle also grabbed UCLA defensive end Cassius Marsh and Boston College linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis in the fourth round. Seattle sees Marsh as being similar to Michael Bennett because of his versatility after having played a number of different positions on the defensive line at UCLA. Pierre-Louis was the fastest linebacker in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and played both outside linebacker positions at Boston College, another example of flexibility being an attractive trait for the Seahawks.

“Versatility is a great thing for me. I’m just looking to go in and compete. I know that the Seahawks are huge on competition,” Marsh said. “I followed coach (Pete) Carroll all the way through to … now and I know competition is the biggest thing and that’s what I love.”

Seattle was busiest in the fourth round but added depth later. The Seahawks took Middle Tennessee defensive tackle Jimmy Staten in the fifth round then took Marshall offensive tackle Garrett Scott and San Diego State defensive back Eric Pinkins in the sixth round. They closed out the draft taking Arkansas fullback Kiero Small in the seventh round.

While he played mostly safety in college, the Seahawks intend on using Pinkins’ 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame as a cornerback.

“I’m used to guarding receivers a lot. As far as speed, I have cornerback speed,” Pinkins said. “I’m just going to learn from the best.”

Norwood did not post numbers that grabbed attention because of how Alabama’s offense functioned. Norwood had 81 catches his entire college career; Richardson had 83 in his senior season alone. But Norwood’s story goes well beyond what he did at Alabama. Growing up on the Mississippi coast, his family faced hardship after Hurricane Katrina. He later saw deadly tornadoes hit the Tuscaloosa area while he was in college.

“It was like all the things coming at me in different angles and different ways, and trying to figure out what I should do next. Should I keep going or is God telling me something?” Norwood said. “In the end, I persevered through it all. I came through and now look at me. It’s a dream come true.”

Norwood finished both his bachelor’s and masters’ degrees at Alabama. He’s an older player who will turn 25 in September. Even with numbers that didn’t grab attention, his ability to rise above defenders and make catches in traffic impressed Seattle scouts.

“It’s all about preparation with me. I feel like if I prepare my best, then I should go out and play fast with no worries and play my best,” Norwood said.

Marsh will be a rush defensive end for Seattle. He slimmed down from 300 pounds when he arrived at UCLA and played his senior season at 265 pounds. He’s played nearly every position on the defensive line, but will likely be a LEO in the Seahawks defensive scheme. Marsh had 16 sacks over his final two seasons at UCLA and had 60 tackles as a senior.

Athleticism made Pierre-Louis jump out to the Seahawks, who anticipate using him as a weakside linebacker. He had 108 tackles, six sacks and one interception in his senior season when he made the position switch.

“If you watch their defense, they’re going to give you a bunch of looks,” Pierre-Louis said. “Their players are quick, they’re fast, they’re agile, they’re players that pretty much don’t fit a particular mold.”

Notes: Seattle SS Kam Chancellor is ahead of schedule in his recovery from hip surgery and Carroll said he should have no problem being ready for training camp in July. … Former Washington QB Keith Price and USC safety Dion Bailey tweeted they were joining the Seahawks as undrafted free agents.

___

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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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