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Colts take different tack to get help in NFL draft

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ryan Grigson ignored the conventional wisdom by doing his own thing in this year’s NFL draft.

Instead of taking a true center, he chose two versatile offensive linemen. Instead of taking a big-name receiver, he selected a 20-year-old with potential. And instead of picking a safety, he reinforced the defense with another pass rusher and a big inside linebacker.

Grigson and the Colts will soon find out if this weekend’s choices will work out.

“Everyone on the outside, I don’t think, can understand how this all works, but you don’t see the (draft) board and if you don’t see the players that are there that you think are good enough to pick, you can’t pick them,” Grigson said. “If they’re almost the same as the guys you have on your roster, it doesn’t make you any better.”

Grigson has always preferred following his instincts to playing by the book — with the exception of the first two picks he made as the Colts general manager, Andrew Luck and Coby Fleener. Since then, he’s made 16 trades and scoured all corners of the planet to find hidden gems.

Nobody can quibble with the results. Grigson took over a team that went 2-14 in 2011 and parted ways with longtime star Peyton Manning and led them right back to the playoffs with a 10-6 record in 2012. Last year, the Colts won their first AFC South title and their first playoff game in the post-Manning era.

After taking two big-school guys on Friday, Grigson added three smaller-school players Saturday — Ball State defensive end-linebacker Jonathan Newsome, Western Kentucky inside linebacker Andrew Jackson and Georgia State offensive lineman Ulrick John.

The Colts are hoping Newsome’s pass-rushing skills will complement reigning NFL sacks champ Robert Mathis, and the 254-pound Jackson could become a run-stopping presence in the middle.

Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano believe those two players will help upgrade the defense.

“The tape doesn’t lie,” Pagano said. “He (Newsome) is a football junkie, it’s his whole life. It’s hard to find pass rushers and the way our league’s going, you can’t have enough of them.”

Both of those guys run into trouble off the field.

Jackson was arrested in high school and was suspended for one game last season for violating undisclosed team rules. He finished his career with 326 tackles with 43 for losses in four seasons and played at the same Florida high school as Ray Lewis, whom coach Chuck Pagano coached in Baltimore.

“That (Lewis) is his idol, and that’s the guy he’s tried to pattern his game,” Pagano said.

Newsome started his career at Ohio State but transferred to Ball State after missing most of the Buckeyes’ 2011 spring practice because of academic problems. He sat out 2011 to comply with NCAA rules then was arrested in August 2012 on a marijuana possession charge. Following a two-game suspension, Newsome started the last 21 games, finished with 16½ sacks in two seasons and eventually caught the attention of the closest NFL team to the Muncie, Indiana, campus.

Grigson said both owned up to their mistakes during the interview process.

“If he lies, he’s dead to us,” Grigson said when asked specifically about Newsome, the first Ball State player drafted by the Colts. “He laid it all out there and if you do that, you’ve got a chance.”

The Colts also took a couple of chances along the offensive line.

Second-round pick Jack Mewhort was a highly regarded prep center, played both guard spots and left tackle at Ohio State and right tackle and guard at the Senior Bowl. At 6-foot-6, 309 pounds, he could play anywhere next season. John, who was listed at 6-8 and 290 in college, was an all-league tackle in the Sun Belt Conference, though Grigson described him as a developmental player who could emerge as an NFL left tackle.

And Grigson made it clear that second-year center Khaled Holmes, who played just 12 snaps last season, is expected to star this fall.

“Khaled’s our center, and you know, like we said, Jack has played center, Donald (Thomas) has snapped we’re going to be fine,” Grigson said. “We took Khaled in the fourth round because we believed he could play.”

Indy also took 6-1, 224-pound receiver Donte Moncrief in the third round as a potential successor to perennial Pro Bowler Reggie Wayne.

Grigson is convinced the Colts made enough progress in the draft to remain a Super Bowl contender — regardless of anyone else’s opinions.

“Delano Howell has played some really good snaps for us (at safety), we feel good about Delano,” Grigson said. “We hope some other guys rise to the occasion. We’ll look at the June 1 cuts because we’re always looking to get better.”

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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