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Raiders take 5 defenders on final day of draft

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — After watching his defense get picked apart all last season, Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie made a priority this offseason of upgrading that side of the ball.

McKenzie spent most of his draft finding defensive reinforcements for the bevy of veterans already added through free agency.

“We just want to be a better defense,” McKenzie said. “We attacked that this offseason.”

The Raiders spent all five picks on defensive players on the final day of the draft Saturday after previously using their first-round pick on pass-rushing linebacker Khalil Mack.

The Raiders took Louisiana Tech defensive tackle Justin Ellis and Utah cornerback Keith McGill in the fourth round, and Ohio cornerback and punt returner T.J. Carrie, Illinois State defensive end Shelby Harris and Western Kentucky safety Jonathan Dowling in the seventh round.

Oakland earlier drafted quarterback Derek Carr in the second round and guard Gabe Jackson in the third as Oakland continued an offseason goal of adding more size on both lines.

“It makes us a bigger, stronger and hopefully more physical and dominant team,” McKenzie said. “We want to do the pushing around, and you do that with big people.”

The Raiders allowed the second-most points per game (28.3) in franchise history in 2013 in their second straight four-win season that extended their playoff drought to 11 years.

Oakland signed free agents Justin Tuck, LaMarr Woodley, Antonio Smith and C.J. Wilson to bolster the defensive line and added cornerbacks Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown.

The team made its biggest move on defense by taking Mack with the fifth overall pick in the first round on Thursday night and then added some depth on the final day of the draft.

Ellis has the flexibility to play either nose tackle in a 3-4 defense or inside tackle in the 4-3 defense that Oakland uses. He made 48 tackles last season, including 5½ behind the line of scrimmage, and is being counted on as a run-stopper.

The biggest concern for Ellis is his weight, which reached 390 pounds at one point in college. Ellis said he weighed about 346 pounds right now and would ideally be at 330 for the season.

“It’s been a grind because I’m a built guy just naturally,” he said. “I’m a naturally built guy. I gain weight easily but I also lose easily, too, so my weight fluctuates. At the same time, it’s been a grind, but it’s something that I can do. I haven’t lost control of it. But I have gained weight but I also lose it.”

McGill played both safety and cornerback in college and had 12 pass breakups his senior season and returned an interception for a touchdown. He allowed 29 completions on 59 passes his direction last season, according to game charting by STATS.

McGill missed the entire 2012 season with a shoulder injury and also had off-field problems with an arrest for DUI and possession of stolen property. But he said he sat down with his coaches and decided to make changes in his life that helped lead him to the NFL.

“I realized that everything could be taken away in a flash, and that the window was closing,” he said. “There comes a point in time in your life where you make a decision to become a man or remain a boy. That’s what I did before the 2013 season. It got me in the situation I am in now.”

Carrie led the Mid-American Conference with a 12.7-yard average on punt returns last season and tied for the team lead with four interceptions. He did not work out at the combine because of a knee injury but ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds and had a 41-inch vertical leap at his pro day.

Harris had 14 sacks in three seasons at Illinois State but was kicked off the team in March 2013 for conduct detrimental to the team. Harris, who had also been suspended previously in his career, did not play at all last season.

“I want to prove to them I’m a better person,” Harris said. “I’m not what the papers and everyone says I am. I’m a good person with a great background and I’m a great team person and that’s what’s important.”

Dowling also comes in with some baggage, having been kicked off the team at Florida in 2010 before transferring to Western Kentucky. He had nine interceptions in two seasons with the Hilltoppers.

“The key is, how do you feel after you (talk) with the kid and meet with him and talk to all the people that you need to talk to as far as who knows him and just try to get a better feel for that particular player,” McKenzie said.

___

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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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