Skip to main content

Oklahoma St expects big things from speedy Hill

By WTOP Staff

CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy had to go way back to find a Cowboy with speed like Tyreek Hill has shown in practice.

After reflecting briefly, he came up with Rafael Denson, who last played for the Cowboys in 1994. Hill was in diapers back then, and many of his teammates hadn’t been born.

“The guy that he reminds me of a little bit, but he’s (Hill) much thicker and heavier, would be Rafael Denson,” Gundy said Tuesday after Oklahoma State’s first practice in full pads. “But he’s faster than Rafael Denson. He’s the only guy I can think of that can get in the same category of the type of athlete that Tyreek is at this time.”

If Hill becomes as productive as Denson was, the Cowboys have a star on their hands. Denson was Oklahoma State’s leading rusher as a freshman, and he led the Big 8 in yards receiving as a senior.

Hill, like Denson, will play running back and receiver and return kicks. He will make his Oklahoma State debut Aug. 30 against defending national champion Florida State in Arlington, Texas.

Hill’s versatility at Garden City Community College was among the qualities that drew Oklahoma State’s attention. He caught 32 passes for 532 yards and six touchdowns and had 101 carries for 659 yards and five scores last year.

“He did everything from wildcat to running back to receiver, and he does have some good hands,” receivers coach Jason Ray said. “Obviously, you get better as you catch the ball more at practice, and we catch a lot more balls at receiver than he would at running back, but he does possess some route running ability. He’s athletic enough to where he can stick his foot in the ground, change direction and run the routes that we run.”

After enrolling at Oklahoma State in January and joining the track team, Hill won the 200 meters and placed second in the 60 meters at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championship in the spring. Now, he’s the preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

“Obviously, there is a lot of excitement about Tyreek with his speed,” running backs coach Jemal Singleton said. “He has a speed not many people get the chance to see, so he can definitely run. We’ll see what he does on Saturdays when it matters, but he’s done a great job so far.”

Gundy wants to give Hill at least 15 touches a game. Before that can happen, Hill needs to learn the nuances of the college game. The coaching staff said Hill is improving in that regard because of his humility, good attitude and work ethic.

“He’s doing a great job and picking up the offense well,” offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said. “There’s some little things we need to get ironed out but Tyreek’s doing fine and progressing well.”

Oklahoma State running back Desmond Roland is impressed.

“It looks like he never gets tired,” Roland said. “That’s that Olympic track conditioning he’s in. His legs keep going and going. I can’t wait to see him in game time.”

Roland rushed for 811 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught nine passes for 83 yards as a junior last season. With a weapon like Hill on the field, and possibly in the backfield with him, Roland sees the potential for more.

“The defense will never know who’s going to get the ball,” Roland said. “We both can make big plays. When that first game comes, we’re going to see what can happen.”

___

Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote