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Reynolds carving out role with Rams

By WTOP Staff

R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) — More than half of the roster was involved in the first St. Louis Rams special teams-only practice of training camp.

That’ll be the case again this week during preparations for the preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints on Friday night.

There’s a surplus of willing, fresh legs anxious to make a name for themselves, a group that includes Michael Sam.

Running back Chase Reynolds, undrafted out of Montana, is trying to make a career out of it. Reynolds played every game last season, virtually all of it on special teams, after spending time on the Rams practice squad in 2011 and 2012.

At the start of training camp he launched a motivational brand, The Promise Line, using his story to inspire people to chase their goals.

“I’m just trying to reach out to people and let them know your dreams, they’re not optional if you run for them and you want them bad enough,” Reynolds said. “You’re the only one that stands in the way.”

Reynolds has already encouraged one kid back home, a high school underclassman who was getting razzed and told he was too small.

“He said, ‘If Chase Reynolds can do it, I can do it,'” Reynolds said. “I knew the parent and she messaged me on Facebook to thank me.

“I come out here and work, and people see that, and it influences them based on your actions and not just your words.”

The 25-year-old Reynolds rose from playing eight-man football in high school and a graduating class of 24 to leading the Big Sky Conference at Montana with seven 100-yard games his senior year. He bounced around a bit, getting signed and released by the Seahawks in a span of 12 days in August 2011 before catching on with the Rams four days later.

“My first year in the NFL I was cut multiple times. It was awful,” Reynolds said. “I sat at home for a month (in St. Louis) not knowing if I was going to get another chance.

“The day before I was packing up to leave, I got the call to come back.”

Reynolds missed OTAs recovering from a sports hernia, but arrived at training camp with a Mohawk hairdo and a “full-speed mentality.”

“I look at every single guy out here as potential for my spot,” Reynolds said. “I do the best I can and try to focus on myself and what I can control.”

The Rams led the NFL in punt return defense, and were eighth in kickoff return coverage.

Hard-hitting linebackers Ray-Ray Armstrong and Daren Bates, undrafted out of college just like Reynolds, are other returning mainstays special teams coach John Fassel can lean on.

Armstrong led the team with 12 special teams tackles and had a fumble recovery, Bates had four tackles and scored on an 11-yard return at Houston after Rodney McLeod forced a fumble, and Reynolds had six special teams tackles.

“It makes a big difference and it feels like they’re veteran guys and really, obviously, they’re only in their second year,” Fassel said. “Last year there were some veteran guys that got beat out by Ray-Ray and Daren and Chase, that’s where they made the team.”

Sam shed about 15 pounds in hopes of carving out a spot on special teams, while also competing for a backup spot on the defensive line.

“I can see him being a good guy on punt return and kickoff return as a blocker,” Fassel said. “We continue to groom him covering kicks, which requires long speed — something that he’ll develop.”

During one-on-one drills, Fassel looks for players willing to finish their blocks and avoid penalties. Armstrong finished his blocks too well a handful of times last season, costing return man Tavon Austin big yardage.

“That’s one of the biggest emphases for us in the return game,” Fassel said. “Being clean finishers but not taking away the stinger that some of the young guys have on teams.”

Punter Johnny Hekker made his first Pro Bowl last season and his 44.2-yard net was the highest single-season average in NFL history. Opponents totaled just 79 return yards.

“I have some amazing teammates who work their butts off, and I have the best special teams coach in the NFL without a doubt,” Hekker said. “He’s getting us ready to go out and dominate.”

___

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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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