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Panthers take DE Ealy, OG Turner on Day 2

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers went for the best player available rather than need on the second day of the NFL draft.

The Panthers ignored more pressing needs at offensive tackle and cornerback, instead selecting defensive end Kony Ealy from Missouri in the second round and guard Trai Turner from LSU in the third round.

“You just can’t pass up good football players,” Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said Friday night.

Gettleman said he had a first-round grade on Ealy and was shocked that he lasted until the 60th pick overall.

The 6-foot-4, 273-pound Ealy started 25 games and had 14 sacks during his three seasons at Missouri. He had 43 tackles and 9.5 sacks last season.

The move is a bit of a surprise considering the Panthers had bigger needs at offensive tackle and cornerback in the second round and have two established starters at defensive end in Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy, the team’s designated franchise player.

Carolina led the NFL with 60 sacks last season but Gettleman said before the draft if there was a “blue goose pass rusher” on the board he wouldn’t hesitate to draft him.

“You can never have enough defensive linemen,” Gettleman said.

The Panthers have some young depth on the roster in Wes Horton and Mario Addison. However, another backup Frank Alexander was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of this season for violating the substance abuse policy.

Gettleman said Ealy reminds him of a young Osi Umenyiora because he move inside and play the three-technique on third downs.

“He has a lot of athletic ability and speed. But the thing that is unusual is he can play the three technique and battle with the big boys,” Gettleman said.

Ealy said he’s happy to come to Carolina even though they have two established defensive ends. He said he’s eager to learn the tricks of the trade from two veterans.

“I’m not disappointed at all, because if they feel like they need me to play in the middle or come in and back somebody up that’s fine,” Ealy said.

Ealy played defensive end in Missouri’s base defense, but moved inside on all third down situations.

Ealy said he’s been working with former Atlanta Falcons and Panthers defensive end Chuck Smith this offseason to improve his footwork and his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage.

“I try to utilize my speed, my strength and my power,” Ealy said.

At some point Ealy could be a potential long-term replacement for Johnson or Hardy, two high-priced players who’ll count more than $29 million under this year’s salary cap.

Hardy is only under contract for this season at the franchise tag rate of $13.116 million.

Johnson signed a six-year $72 million contract in 2011 — the richest ever handed out to a Carolina player — and is due to cost $17.42 million under the salary cap next season. If the Panthers were to release Johnson next year the team would save about half of that money under the cap.

The 6-3, 310-pound Turner started 20 games for LSU during his three seasons there, including 13 last season. He had 115 career knockdowns.

An NFL.com analysis said Turner plays with good overall body mass and walls off defenders and generates movement in the run game.

“I’m physical and able to overpower defensive tackles and also able to finesse and get up to the second level of the defense,” Turner said.

Said Gettleman: “He gives us the power that we are looking for and he can displace defensive linemen. And he pulls well, and that’s an important part of our guard spot.”

The Panthers also hoping Turner provides some stability at guard.

Carolina lost four guards to season-ending injuries last season — Amini Silatolu, Garry Williams, Jeff Byers and 2013 fourth-round draft pick Edmund Kugbila. Complicating matters, veterans Geoff Hangartner and Byers retired this offseason and free agent Travelle Wharton isn’t expected to re-sign. Gettleman said Silatolu and Kugbila are recovering from injuries but should be back soon.

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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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