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Titans agree with NFL’s last unsigned draft pick

By WTOP Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with left tackle Taylor Lewan on Thursday, making the 11th overall selection out of Michigan the last of this year’s draft picks to reach a deal.

The Titans announced the deal Thursday. The Titans report for training camp Friday.

The team did not release terms. Lewan reportedly received a four-year deal worth $11.5 million with a signing bonus of $6.7 million.

The 6-foot-7, 309-pound Lewan was an AP All-American and a two-time Big Ten offensive lineman of the year.

The third tackle selected in the draft after Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews, Lewan practiced at both tackle spots this offseason for Tennessee and will be competing with right tackle Michael Oher and veteran left tackle Michael Roos.

This is the second straight year that the Titans were the NFL’s last team to sign all of their draft picks. Right guard Chance Warmack, the 10th overall selection, missed the first four practices of training camp before getting his deal.

General manager Ruston Webster said in a radio interview Thursday that Lewan will be ready for camp.

The first practice is Saturday.

“He’ll compete in multiple spots,” Webster said of plans for Lewan. “When we took him, we want guys to come in and contribute right away and play. But we also had an eye for the future, so we’ll see where it goes. We feel great about our depth at tackle and just our group in general at the offensive line.”

The Titans drafted Lewan despite having signed Oher to a four-year deal in March, even with the tackle facing charges in Michigan for allegedly hitting an Ohio State fan after the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines last season.

Lewan is charged with one count of aggravated assault and two counts of assault and battery, and jury selection for a trial is scheduled for Oct. 27 in Ann Arbor District Court during the Titans’ bye week.

According to an Ann Arbor police report obtained by The Associated Press, Lewan told police he only was separating people, but later acknowledged he “could have pushed someone.”

James Hughes of Denver said Lewan hit him in the face. Alexandra Dileo, whose brother was a college teammate of Lewan’s, said “Taylor is lying” about his actions on Dec. 1.

“He knocked the guy to the ground and he punched him,” she told police in a telephone interview Jan. 29, according to the report. She recalled hearing Lewan tell his mother “I knocked a guy out” the next morning while they were having breakfast.

Lewan gave his side of the story before the NFL draft to many teams, including the Titans.

“I’m happy that they believed in my character, the kind of person I am,” Lewan said during a conference call the night he was drafted. “My job is to not do reckless things off the field. My job is to make sure my quarterback is safe and my running backs are in good positions to gain yards.”

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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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