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Rookie WR Landry off to good start with Dolphins

By WTOP Staff

STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — With training camp barely underway, Miami Dolphins rookie receiver Jarvis Landry has already showed an ability to catch the ball and the boss’ eye.

When team owner Stephen Ross was asked what player he’s most eager to see this season, he named Landry, a second-round draft choice from Louisiana State.

“Jarvis Landry is somebody I think everybody is really excited about, speaking to the coaches,” Ross said. “I think he’s really going to be somebody that’s going to surprise a lot of people and really bring some excitement to this team.”

Landry was overshadowed at LSU by his close friend Odell Beckham Jr., a first-round pick by the New York Giants. Landry’s draft stock slipped because of doubts about his speed, and the Dolphins traded down twice before taking him with the 63rd overall pick.

But during offseason drills, the 5-foot-11, 202-pound Landry consistently got open and seemed to catch everything thrown his way. That was the case again Saturday during the second practice of training camp.

Afterward, Landry was the last player doing drills on the field, catching passes from a ball machine when his teammates had already gone inside. He takes pride in his work ethic.

“It’s one of the things I’ve developed to get me to this point, and why stop now?” he said. “It’s time to put your foot on the gas and make an impression.”

The receiving group is the deepest, most competitive unit on the Miami roster. Landry will try to claim a place on the depth chart behind returning starters Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline and slot receiver Brandon Gibson.

But with Dolphins expected to throw a lot under new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, they’ll likely give the rookie plenty of opportunities.

“He seems to be kind of an instinctive football player,” coach Joe Philbin said. “He picks things up well. I think he reads coverages quickly and accurately, he has a knack of finding a way to get open, and so far he has displayed very good hands. He’s off to a very good start.”

Among those watching Saturday’s workout was A.J. Duhe, a former Pro Bowl linebacker for the Dolphins and an LSU alum. Duhe said he was thrilled when the Dolphins drafted Landry.

“All the talk was about Odell Beckham Jr., but Landry always seemed to be the guy they threw the ball to when it was money time,” Duhe said. “His hands are exceptional. I saw him make a catch today where he snagged one 4 or 5 inches off the ground. Nowadays you need guys who can get open and make the catch when you need a catch made. He’s going to fit that mold.”

Hampered by a hamstring injury, Landry ran a 4.77 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, but allayed concerns about his speed with a 4.51 at Louisiana State’s pro day. Even so, he’s not as fast as Beckham — or Jerry Rice, his hero as a youngster.

Landry wore No. 80 in Rice’s honor at LSU, but veteran tight end Dion Sims has that number with the Dolphins. So Landry now wears 14 for the year “when all my hard work paid off.”

Landry’s also a fan of New York Jets receiver Eric Decker, and said he’s styling parts of his game after Hartline and Wallace.

“I try to take bits and pieces from everybody,” he said. “I call it changing the standard of what a receiver should look like. I’m blue collar. I do all the dirty work. I’m selfless and very team oriented. Whatever is best for the team, I’m willing to do.”

That’s what the Dolphins want to hear, and what Ross is eager to see. Landry was pleased to learn he had the owner’s attention.

“That’s a great compliment from such a prestigious guy,” Landry said. “For him to give me a plug, I hope I can fill those shoes.”

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve_Wine

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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