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Georgia’s Gurley: 2,000 yards ‘would be awesome’

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Todd Gurley downplays talk of being a potential Heisman Trophy candidate, but the Georgia running back can’t contain a smile at the mention of one milestone that’s probably unrealistic.

What would it be like to run for 2,000 yards like Boston College’s Andre Williams did last season?

“If I could get 2,000 yards, that would be awesome,” Gurley said Thursday at Southeastern Conference media days. “If the Lord would bless me with that, oh my gosh. That’s going to be pretty hard to do in the SEC.”

Pretty hard to do at Georgia, too, with a backfield that also includes Keith Marshall and other highly recruited backs. But a player can dream.

Gurley was one of numerous key Bulldogs players who were injured during an 8-5 season. He missed three games but still flirted with 1,000 yards and has run for 2,374 yards and 27 touchdowns in two seasons.

He and Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon are the marquee tailbacks in a league that’s short on experienced quarterbacks but has three 1,000-yard rushers returning from last season, not even counting Gurley or Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall.

There’s also Arkansas’ Alex Collins and South Carolina’s Mike Davis among others. It’s a deep group in a season when Georgia and other teams are breaking in new starting quarterbacks.

Gurley was asked if there’s a friendly competition among the running backs.

“Who wouldn’t want to lead the SEC in rushing yards?” he said. “I just go out there and do my game. I don’t worry about what other people do. I definitely respect their game and I definitely watch their tapes. I show respect, but it’s not really a competition.”

Star running backs like Auburn Heisman finalist Tre Mason and LSU’s Jeremy Hill have joined the trend of SEC running backs leaving early for the NFL. Gurley will be eligible after this season.

“Whether Todd stays another year or not, I don’t know,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “But if he stays healthy, I think he’s one of the better players in America, no doubt about it. Hopefully he stays healthy.

“I see that he’s getting into great condition. If we continue to get him in great condition for this season, I think the sky’s the limit for him.”

Gurley doesn’t think he’ll necessarily shoulder more of the offensive load with the departure of prolific quarterback Aaron Murray. Hutson Mason has taken the reins after starting the final two games after Murray sustained a knee injury.

“Hutson’s a great quarterback,” Gurley said. “He’s going to throw and he’s going to lead this team. We’re going to run the same offense that we always do.”

As for the Heisman, he said that’s “just for the fans” and more of a team thing. Becoming a contender might depend not only on Gurley staying healthy but on the Bulldogs’ fortunes after falling hard from a No. 5 preseason ranking during an injury-riddled 2013.

“You have to be on a great team,” Gurley said. “You can’t be on an 8-5 team and expect to win the Heisman because it’s definitely not going to happen. If I was able to reach that goal I would definitely love to have it.

“It would be because of my teammates.”

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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