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New Bengals CB Dennard tried to learn from Revis

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Darqueze Dennard has studied NFL cornerbacks, trying to borrow some of their techniques to improve his game. One in particular stood out as a kindred spirit in pass coverage.

He admires three-time All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis, who signed with New England in the offseason. They have similar builds and are known for tight man-to-man coverage.

Dennard gets to show what he’s learned with the Cincinnati Bengals, who took the former Michigan State standout 24th overall in the first round. Dennard won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back.

Dennard arrived in Cincinnati and met with the media on Saturday. He also got his jersey with No. 21.

One of his NFL favorites wears No. 24 and is known for being a shut-down cornerback. Asked who he tries to emulate, Dennard said, “I’d probably say Darrelle Revis.

“We have the same body type. He’s a press corner, and that’s what I did in college. He’s very (good) with his technique, and he comes up with tackles as well.”

The Bengals wanted to add an up-and-coming player to the oldest position in their team. Leon Hall is recovering from his second Achilles tendon rupture in three years. Terence Newman and Adam “Pacman” Jones are in their 30s. Dre Kirkpatrick, a first-round pick two years ago, has been hurt and inconsistent.

Unless the veterans get hurt, Dennard will get time to learn and grow into a spot. The Bengals liken him to Hall, another first-round pick who is known for solid man-to-man coverage.

“I started the last three years playing one-on-one coverages the entire game against good receivers, and the only thing it does is it makes you better,” Dennard said. “I’m ready for the next journey I’ve got coming, which is the NFL.”

The Bengals’ defense finished third overall last season, but they failed again to win in the playoffs. They’ve lost in the first round three consecutive seasons and haven’t won a postseason game since 1990, tied for the sixth-longest streak of playoff futility in NFL history.

Dennard got indoctrinated into that part of franchise history as soon as he was selected. Jones got in touch with him to welcome him to the team and let him know the stakes.

“Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones reached out and told me, ‘Welcome to our organization. You’ve got some work to do to chase this Super Bowl,'” he said.

___

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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