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Giants confident in depth at running back

By WTOP Staff

JIM HAGUE
Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Despite the sudden retirement of running back David Wilson, the New York Giants are confident that they have enough depth at the position.

The 23-year-old Wilson announced his retirement on Monday because of neck and back injuries.

“I feel for him,” said quarterback Eli Manning, whose brother Cooper had his football career end because of a similar injury at the University of Mississippi. And his other older brother, Peyton, overcame spinal fusion surgery two years ago.

“It’s a tough situation, but it could have been a lot worse. It’s a little bit scary, but he made the right decision by walking away. We’re all going to miss him, because he was going to be a big part of our offense.”

And one Giants player, in particular, could relate to Wilson’s situation.

Linebacker Jameel McClain, signed as a free agent from Baltimore in the offseason, suffered a similar injury to the one that ended Wilson’s career when McClain was with the Ravens in 2012.

McClain suffered a bruised spinal cord and aggravated a long-standing case of spinal stenosis.

At the time, McClain was told by Ravens’ doctors that he would never play football ever again.

After the injury, McClain was released by the Ravens and signed by the Giants.

He is listed on the depth chart as their starting middle linebacker, with projected starter Jon Beason still recovering from a broken foot suffered in minicamp in June.

“I can understand to a certain extent,” McClain said. “I can relate because of the circumstances and having the same options. I really didn’t know much about my injury. The situation is a little different, but I had the same numbness and tingling my neck, hands and feet. After I first came here and we met each other, I talked to David and told him about my situation.”

McClain said that he was born with a slight case of spinal stenosis.

“What happened to David felt so real to me,” said McClain, who started 10 games for the Ravens last season before getting hurt, and had 52 tackles and a forced fumble.

“I was told that I would never play again,” he said. “David is a young man with a lot of talent. It’s a wild situation how this happened.”

McClain did not have surgery to correct his problem.

“I spent three months, had a test, waited another three months, had another test,” McClain said. “I don’t know if it was toughness or ignorance, but I didn’t know much about it to be scared. I had to confront my situation and have been moving in the right direction.”

McClain has not had to endure another burner or stinger as Wilson had last Tuesday.

“Sometimes, you have to put your future in the hands of nature and God,” McClain said. “Playing again was something I just needed to do in time. I was focused on coming right back. I haven’t had another stinger in a long while and I don’t plan on having another.”

Still, McClain feels bad for Wilson.

“My thoughts and prayers are with him 100 percent,” McClain said.

Several of Wilson’s teammates expressed confidence that the team has depth at the position.

“He always came out with a smile on his face,” running back Peyton Hillis said. “The whole week, we’ve been like that. We still think we have a strong running back group. We have a group of guys who can produce. We have power backs who can get yardage when we need it. But make no bones about it. David Wilson will be missed.”

Coach Tom Coughlin started the team’s early morning meeting on Tuesday by talking about Wilson.

“He said, ‘Once a Giant, always a Giant,'” Coughlin said. “He didn’t want pity and I think that was a key. I related my feelings about David and his attitude. He actually helped me to understand it all better.”

Coughlin said that he had his concerns about Wilson, especially having the spinal fusion surgery last January.

“There was always the possibility that he couldn’t return,” Coughlin said. “We were very concerned and very aware.”

But the Giants moved on without the former first-round pick.

“Our running backs all did a good job,” Coughlin said about the team’s rushing attack in a 17-13 win against Buffalo in the Hall of Fame game on Sunday night.

Rookie Andre Williams was the most impressive of the Giants’ rushers. The fourth-round pick from Boston College gained 48 yards on seven carries and had a touchdown against Buffalo.

“I’m not surprised at all,” Coughlin said of Williams’ performance. “It’s what we expected. That’s why we drafted him.”

NOTES: The Giants held their first night practice of training camp, practicing from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Some of those on the injured list who missed the preseason game, such as OT Will Beatty and DE Robert Ayers, returned to practice Tuesday. … The Giants face the Pittsburgh Steelers in their second preseason game at home Saturday night. … The Giants signed defensive end Israel Idonije, who played nine years for the Chicago Bears and last season for the Detroit Lions, and tight end Jerome Cunningham, who will be in his first professional camp. … RB Peyton Hillis left practice with a sprained ankle.

___

Online:

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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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