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Cowboys’ Durant set for bigger role as sub for Lee

By WTOP Staff

SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer

OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Justin Durant stepped on the plane bound for California and was reminded right away why his second training camp with the Dallas Cowboys would be so much more important than the first.

Sean Lee was on the flight, even though he’ll miss the season at middle linebacker after tearing a knee ligament in the first practice of the offseason.

Durant is most likely to start in Lee’s place a year after the Cowboys signed him more for depth at linebacker than anything else.

“I was surprised when I saw him on the plane,” Durant said. “I just couldn’t believe it, how much he has invested into this team and the extra help that he’s doing. I told him that I’m just thankful for him for being here for helping me the best way that he can.”

Going into his eighth season, Durant isn’t new to starting or playing in the middle. If he ends up with the job, though, the task is daunting.

The Cowboys had the worst defense in the league a year ago. They are now without Lee and their two best pass rushers after franchise sacks leader DeMarcus Ware was released and Jason Hatcher left for Washington in free agency.

“Honestly, I don’t pay that any attention,” said Durant, who has started 74 of 89 career games, with previous stops in Jacksonville and Detroit. “Just sit back and watch and we’ll just have to show people. We can talk all day. But as far as what we’re going to do, you have to see it on the field.”

Durant came to camp knowing there was more competition for the job because the Cowboys added former top 10 pick Rolando McClain after the offseason program ended.

Coaches haven’t wasted any time incorporating McClain, who flamed out at the end of three seasons in Oakland and quit twice in Baltimore before the Ravens traded him to the Cowboys. He was even getting first-team work before a sore hamstring kept him out of practice the past couple of days.

Durant knew the competition was coming.

“I thought it was going to be earlier, like as soon as Sean went down,” said Durant, who missed six games last year with hamstring and groin issues. “The more competition that we have, the better it’s going to bring out of each person.”

Lee has been a constant presence in meeting rooms since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in May. The Cowboys decided they wanted to keep that going in California.

“If you look at Durant last year, I thought that when he was in, he made a lot of plays and was really effective,” Lee said. “Hopefully he can stay healthy. I think he can make a lot of plays for us. Obviously our room and our defense has a lot to prove.”

Durant was a starter alongside Lee and Bruce Carter the first two games last year before injuries started getting in the way. He made a late-season start in the middle while Lee was battling a neck problem before he had to join Lee on the sideline the final two games with a hamstring injury.

Even when he was healthy, he had to battle veteran Ernie Sims for playing time and came away from the season thinking he needed to get better. As much as he hated to see Lee go down, now he’s feeling rejuvenated.

“He had a real good summer,” linebackers coach Matt Eberflus said. “He came back in good shape. So he understands he’s played a long time, understands his body, understands space. We look for him to be real good and solid in there.”

But the competition with McClain is far from over, and second-year player DeVonte Holloman shouldn’t be forgotten.

“I just think you let things play out in camp,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “We have a ways to go yet. We have some competition, some real good competition in there. It’s going to heat up in there.”

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Online:

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Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler

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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