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Ausberry aiming to win Raiders starting TE job

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — David Ausberry was poised to win the starting tight end job for the Oakland Raiders last summer before a nasty shoulder injury ended his year in the preseason.

Ausberry is back healthy and once again making a bid to seize that job after Oakland let starter Jeron Mastrud leave in free agency and chose not to add any other proven tight ends.

This well could be the last chance for Ausberry, who has shown flashes of being a legitimate NFL tight end but has not done it consistently enough in his first three NFL seasons.

“It’s one of those things I try not to think about too much,” Ausberry said. “My job is to get on the field and be productive and do what I can do to help this team.”

Ausberry, a seventh-round pick in 2011, had nine catches his first two seasons. He appeared to be the leader last training camp for the starting job before taking an awkward fall in an exhibition game against New Orleans.

Ausberry chipped a bone in his left shoulder and also tore ligaments, leading to his eventual placement on season-ending injured reserve.

“It was really tough,” he said. “Coming out and having a strong training camp from the beginning, it was tough to go down and watch everybody, but it’s part of the game. You have to take it for what it is.”

While the Raiders spent the offseason overhauling their roster at almost every position, the only additions at tight end were a pair of undrafted free agents.

That leaves Ausberry to compete with second-year players Mychal Rivera and Nick Kasa and practice squader Brian Leonhardt for the starting role.

Coach Dennis Allen said the lack of additions at that spot was not necessarily a strong vote of confidence in the returning players, saying it’s impossible to address every need in the offseason. But he hopes one of the tight ends will emerge before the start of the season.

“I feel good about having some young guys at the tight end position and we’re going to need those guys to step up,” Allen said. “Somebody in that room has to step up and say they’re the guy.”

The tight end figures to be an important spot for the Raiders this season after they acquired Matt Schaub as their starting quarterback.

Schaub relied heavily on the tight end during his time in Houston, forming a strong partnership with Owen Daniels as he tried to do much of his work in the middle of the field. Schaub threw nearly 60 percent of his passes over the middle the past two seasons, according to game charting by Pro Football Focus, compared to less than half for Oakland last season when the tight ends combined for more than 45 catches.

“I watched film on him before he came. He likes the tight ends,” Ausberry said. “He likes to use the middle of the field, so we’ll be there for him.”

The bigger test for Ausberry will be to prove he can handle the blocking role of a tight end, which has been a bit of a struggle at times for a player who was a wide receiver most of his college career.

Ausberry has added about 15 pounds to his frame since entering the NFL and now weighs close to 260 pounds. With the Raiders unable to get in pads for practice until training camp starts, Ausberry has been unable to prove he can handle the blocking load.

“It’s one of those things where you can’t really tell right now,” he said. “We are not really in real football yet with no pads on. It’s about technique, it’s about being confident, it’s about knowing your assignment. That’s one of those things that I am working on right now.”

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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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