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49ers’ depth to be tested after Hunter tears ACL

By WTOP Staff

ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Training camp is not even a week old and already the San Francisco 49ers’ depth at running back is about to be tested.

The 49ers said Saturday that reliable backup Kendall Hunter tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Friday’s practice, ending his season before it began. Hunter started training camp where he has been most of the last three years: as the No. 2 running back behind Frank Gore.

The injury leaves LaMichael James, rookie Carlos Hyde and rehabbing Marcus Lattimore as the most likely candidates to fill the void in San Francisco’s running game.

“You just got to try to play for him,” said James, who has wanted more of a role in the offense. “That’s the way I got to look at it, is to try and go out there and compete. When I feel like I just can’t give it anymore, I got to give a little extra for him.”

The extent of Hunter’s injury came as a surprise to teammates.

Hunter’s knee buckled awkwardly as he tried to make a move during a non-contact drill. He was able to walk off the field on his own before an MRI confirmed the tear.

Hunter had spelled Gore more than anybody the past three years. He burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2011 and started strong in 2012 before missing the final two months of the season — when the 49ers advanced to the Super Bowl, losing to the Baltimore Ravens — with a torn left Achilles tendon.

Hunter, who was entering the final year of his contract, rushed for 358 yards and three touchdowns on 78 carries last season. He has averaged 4.6 yards per carry since San Francisco selected him in the fourth round of the 2011 draft out of Oklahoma State.

“Only word that can describe it is devastating,” said cornerback Chris Culliver, who was rooming with Hunter during training camp after spending the past year rehabbing from his own ACL tear. “It’s so easy to do that, but it’s so hard to come back from.”

Now it’s likely up to James, Hyde and Lattimore to ease the burden on the 31-year-old Gore in a running game that has been among the NFL’s best in recent seasons.

James, the former Oregon speedster, is the most likely candidate — though 49ers coaches would still like to see him improve in pass protection. And while he fell out of favor last season as he mostly just returned kicks and punts, James has shown the ability to be effective in the read-option game with quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

James averaged 4.6 yards per carry in four regular-season games and 5.9 yards in two playoff games and the Super Bowl after Hunter injured his Achilles in 2012. He said he has worked on getting stronger to bounce off hard hits, starting his career at 190 pounds, playing at 200 pounds last year and bulking up to 208 pounds this offseason without losing any of his quick-cutting ability.

“I’m still fast,” James said.

Hyde has all the physical tools that 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman crave for their power running game. Whether he is ready to contribute as a rookie is another matter.

The 49ers drafted Hyde in the second round and 57th overall. In 20 career starts for Ohio State and 41 games that also included playing fullback, Hyde had 3,516 all-purpose yards, rushing for 3,198 yards on 523 carries.

But playing in Urban Meyer’s spread offense is “completely different” from Harbaugh’s old-school style, Hyde said. He has been focused on learning the pass protection and other nuances of San Francisco’s complicated schemes, and by Roman’s account, has proven to be a quick study.

Hyde said was looking forward to the team’s first contact practice in pads Saturday to show what he does best.

“I’m a hard-nosed runner and a guy who runs with a lot of passion, relentless and refuses to go down,” he said.

Lattimore was drafted in the fourth round last year after tearing three major ligaments in his left knee in October 2012 at South Carolina. He spent his first NFL season on injured reserve and is still working his way back.

Lattimore was a limited participant in offseason practices but appeared increasingly nimble. He remains on the non-football injury list with knee and hamstring issues.

The 49ers believe Lattimore can contribute at some point this season, and his size and strength — similar to Hyde — fits the 49ers’ mold for running backs. But like Harbaugh’s staff has done since taking over in 2011, they will use a bevy of backs to give Gore help.

“Thankfully our front office and scouting department had done a great job of building some depth — quality depth,” Roman said. “It is not necessarily one person.”

___

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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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