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Texans choose UCLA G Su’a-Filo in 2nd round

By WTOP Staff

KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON (AP) — Xavier Su’a-Filo had a two-year layoff between his first season of football at UCLA and his final two years, thanks to a Mormon mission.

The guard, taken by the Texans with the first pick in the second round on Friday night, believes the time off helped him improve as a player and a person.

“Obviously I was away from the game for two years, but I think it helped me be physically more mature and mentally more mature and helped me just become a better football player,” he said. “When I came back I was an older guy. I was more suited to be a leader at UCLA. I look at it all positive.”

Despite a need at quarterback, the Texans went with another position again after selecting defensive end Jadeveon Clowney with the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday night. They continued that trend in the third when they took Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz with the 65th pick. Houston traded the first pick in the fourth round (101st overall) and the first pick in the fifth round (141) to the Eagles to move up and select Notre Dame nose tackle Louis Nix at No. 83.

Despite their need at quarterback, the Texans have also drafted defensive end Jadeveon Clowney with the No. 1 overall pick and guard Xavier Su’a-Filo in the second round and picked up tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz with the 65th overall pick.

Nix started eight games in 2013 and finished with 27 tackles and two tackles for losses.

Houston general manager Rick Smith said Friday night that he still believes there are some good quarterbacks left in the draft.

“We’ve done a lot of work on quarterbacks throughout the process because it is a position — we’d like to be able to draft quarterbacks and develop young quarterbacks and that’s certainly something that we want to do,” Smith said. “But we will always do that with corresponding value. So if there’s an opportunity for us to do that (Saturday), we certainly will entertain that.”

In 2009, Su’a-Filo became the first true freshman in UCLA history to start 13 games before leaving for his mission in Alabama and Florida. He picked up right where he left off in 2012 when he started 14 games at left guard for an offense that averaged 466.5 yards a game.

He split time between left guard and left tackle last season and won the Morris Trophy as the Pac 12’s top offensive lineman. Su’a-Filo isn’t sure how the Texans will use him, but he’s looking forward to showcasing his versatility in Houston.

“I can play either,” he said. “I just want to get in there and I want to compete and contribute and help the team as best as I can.”

Fiedorowicz had 30 receptions for 299 yards and six touchdowns last season. Houston re-signed tight end Garrett Graham this offseason, but lost tight end Owen Daniels in free agency. The 6-5, 265-pound Fiedorowicz said he has always looked up to New England tight end Rob Gronkowski and that despite his own skill as a blocker he wants to prove he can be a well-rounded tight end.

“I feel like I’m going to really prove to everybody that I’m a dual-threat,” he said. “I’m going to catch the ball, I’m going to block on the edge and do everything (O’Brien) asks.”

Su’a-Filo has fashioned his game after veteran New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins and raved about his skills.

“I love the way he plays,” Su’a-Filo said. “I think he’s physical. I think he’s nasty. You know, I try to implement as much from his game that I can.”

The 6-foot-4, 307-pound Su’a-Filo, perhaps unsurprisingly, is looking forward to the culinary delights in Houston.

“The whole state of Texas is pretty great, but I’m looking forward to eating at Pappadeaux and Whataburger,” he said of the Houston-based Cajun restaurant and the burger-chain, which started in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Nix started eight games in 2013 and finished with 27 tackles and two tackles for losses.

He can’t wait to join a defensive line with 2012 Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and Clowney.

“I never thought ever in life that would happen,” Nix said. “I’m super excited.”

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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