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Penn State looks to plug holes at linebacker

By WTOP Staff

RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State lacking linebackers is like a carpenter running out of nails.

How can that happen?

Over the years Penn State had made a name for itself — Linebacker U. — by producing one star linebacker after another, from Jack Ham to Shane Conlan, LaVar Arrington to Sean Lee, just to name a few.

Coach James Franklin begins his first preseason camp with the Nittany Lions with one potential star linebacker in Mike Hull holding down the middle, and lots of unproven players on the second level of the defense.

“Each guy has a different skill set that they’re really good at,” linebackers coach Brent Pry said Monday, during Penn State’s media day. “Maybe weak in some other areas but really strong in some. We’ve got to develop those weaknesses and we’ve got to find a way to maximize their strengths and get them on the field in the right place.

“They’re still young to where maybe they’re not complete linebackers. We’re trying to get them there as quickly as we can. We do that and I think we’ll have a pretty good group.”

Penn State is still digging out from under NCAA sanctions from the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Scholarship limitations have left the roster thin and inexperienced heading into this season, with offensive line and linebacker the hardest hit.

Sophomores Brandon Bell and Nyeem Wartman will get first crack at holding down the linebacker spots around Hull. Both played last season, but will need to take big steps foward in 2013. Highly touted freshmen Troy Reeder and Jason Cabinda will have the opportunity to get on the field sooner rather than later, but it’s not an ideal situation.

Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop sees another way around the potential linebacker problems for Penn State.

Like so many teams in college football these days, the Nittany Lions are using more defenses with extra safeties and cornerbacks to combat spread offenses that feature three, four and sometimes five receivers split wide.

“In today’s game, we’ve toyed around and tinkered with playing a third safety, a 4-2-5 package,” Shoop said. “The star position, that field linebacker, that could be a number of different people depending on what the situation calls for.”

Shoop said he likes Penn State’s depth at safety with Adrian Amos, Ryen Keiser, Jesse Della Valle and Bucknell transfer Jordan Dudas.

“The game has changed,” Shoop said. “This isn’t 20 years when it was rock’em, sock’em robots running downhill. There’s more skilled athletes on the field than ever before. Defensively, what you’re trying to do is maximize your athletic ability.”

But to stand up to the power of the Big Ten East rivals Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State, Penn State will need Hull and company to develop.

“I think Penn State has that mentality of being tough and trying to stop the run whenever they try to line it up and play smashmouth football,” Hull said.

The fifth-year senior missed some time last year with a knee injury but still made 78 tackles in 10 games.

“He had a great spring for us,” Franklin said. “He’s a guy that not only has the physcial tools in terms of being able to run, being able to change directions. Freakishly strong. But he processes information fast as well. You watch the tape; and the offense is running a counter play, they start out going this way and everybody on the defense takes three steps in that direction. Hull takes two and is already moving in the other direction.”

Hull moves from the outside to the middle linebacker. The shift comes with added responsibility.

“We’re going to need him to be really verbal,” Franklin said. “He’s more comfortable doing that now than ever before”

To get ready for the new gig, Hull doubled down on film study this offseason.

“The biggest thing I needed to improve on was mentally, being ready to take on the mental challenge of getting everyone all set up on the defense,” he said. “Being decisive.”

And trying to hold up Penn State’s Linebacker U. tradition.

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

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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