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Jets’ ‘elite’ Wilkerson motivated for big season

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — The words stung Muhammad Wilkerson more than he let on.

He heard Sheldon Richardson, his New York Jets linemate, boldly proclaim in an interview last season that he — not Wilkerson — was the best defensive player in the NFL.

Wilkerson was fired up. And it helped him sharpen his focus.

“He’s the one who really pushes me,” Wilkerson said of Richardson. “He can talk and say some things that can really tick me off. Not in a bad way, but to get me to push myself and let me know that I can go much harder.”

Richardson went on to become the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, while Wilkerson led the Jets with 10 1/2 sacks and firmly established himself in his third season as one of the league’s top defensive players. But that one remark stuck with Wilkerson.

“When he said he felt like he was better than me, as a man, you’re supposed to feel like that, but that’s my teammate and we both love each other,” Wilkerson said. “At the end of the day, I feel like that’s what’s going to make me outwork him and push myself.”

The 24-year-old Wilkerson might be the Jets’ most valuable player. A first alternate for the Pro Bowl last year, he heads into his fourth season with even higher expectations.

“I feel like I’m an elite player,” he said. “I feel like I’m one of the best defensive ends in this league, and I feel like I can be as great as I want to be. It’s up to me. I can go out here and pretty much go through the day and be lazy. Or I can get up in the morning and fight through everything, have that mental toughness to get through the day and want to work hard and get better.”

That’s why Wilkerson has refused to make a stink about his uncertain contract situation. He considers himself a team leader and didn’t want anything to get in the way of what he believes the Jets are building — especially on an intimidating defensive line.

“As a whole, we feel like we’re the best,” Wilkerson said. “We always feel like that. We’re young. We’re really talented, and at the end of the day, we can say it, but we have to go out there and prove it as well.”

Wilkerson knows he’ll get paid. The question is when — and he’s willing to wait for that answer.

He’s scheduled to earn $1.2 million in base salary this season, underpaid for a player with his production who’s still on the rise in a big way. The Jets have already exercised a fifth-year option for 2015, worth just under $7 million — meaning they might not need to make a move for a while.

“We know that he is an ascending player,” Rex Ryan said. “When we drafted him, you’re hoping that a guy turns out like this, pans out like this.”

Wilkerson, a native of Linden, New Jersey, has said he wants to play his entire NFL career at “home,” but the Jets could be hard-pressed to match the money he would fetch in the open market.

None of that matters to Wilkerson right now.

“On the business side, everything will be handled when the time will come,” he said when he reported for camp two weeks ago. “I’m here to bust my tail for this organization, for my team.”

During Wilkerson’s rookie season, veteran defensive linemen Mike DeVito and Sione Pouha raved about their new teammate’s potential. He was a star at Temple, and his mix of raw strength and speed made him an immediate favorite of Ryan and a first-round pick.

The hiring of Karl Dunbar as the Jets’ defensive line coach in his second year was a turning point for Wilkerson.

“It was just the icing on the cake, him coming in,” Wilkerson said. “He evolved my game to a totally different level.”

For the Jets, a lot of their success could hinge on how much better the already-dominant defensive line of Wilkerson, Richardson, Damon Harrison, Kenrick Ellis and Leger Douzable performs.

Wilkerson will be leading the way.

“We come out here every single day to compete,” Wilkerson said. “That’s what’s so great. That’s what can make us special.”

___

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

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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