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Steelers rookie Tuitt making quick impression

By WTOP Staff

DAN SCIFO
Associated Press

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt’s first NFL training camp is going better than he could have imagined.

Tuitt spent last weekend working with the first team, a promising start for a player the Steelers need to mature quickly.

It’s uncertain if the second-round pick will stay with the starters when the team opens the preseason Saturday at the New York Giants.

Not that it matters to the 21-year-old Tuitt, who is paying no attention to where he’s at on the depth chart.

“I had a chance to experience something different and get a chance to play with the first-team players,” Tuitt said. “I thought it went well.”

Tuitt learned he would be with the starters just before the start of practice on Saturday. He went about his job for the 2½-hour session at Saint Vincent College, but found time to enjoy the moment afterward.

“I was focused, but after I got off the practice field, I called my mom,” Tuitt said. “There’s still a lot for me to learn. I think right now, all I’m doing is working hard and it has been showing. That’s the best I can give to my teammates.”

Tuitt will likely have an opportunity to make his impact this season.

The Steelers needed immediate offseason help along the defensive line after losing starters Ziggy Hood and backup nose tackle Al Woods in free agency and deciding not to re-sign longtime veteran Brett Keisel.

Pittsburgh selected Tuitt, the former Notre Dame standout, with the 46th overall pick. The Steelers felt they landed a bit of a steal, believing Tuitt could have gone in the first round had he been healthy entering his junior year.

“He has all the talent in the world,” defensive end Cam Heyward said. “You just love the intangibles he brings, his character and ability to work hard.”

Tuitt had 47 tackles and was among the nation’s leaders with 12 sacks during a dominant breakthrough sophomore season at Notre Dame in 2012. But he suffered a fractured foot and a sports hernia last year and put on an extra 25 pounds. The added weight affected his play, though he still totaled a career-best 50 tackles and 7½ sacks.

Now, the 6-foot-5 Tuitt is healthy and his listed weight with the Steelers is 303. It’s significantly lighter than where he was at last fall. Heyward has already taken notice of Tuitt’s athleticism.

“I think he has a lot of explosion,” Heyward said. “The one thing you love about his body frame is that he carries it well and he’s able to explode through the line. He moves very well for someone his size.”

His work ethic caught the eye of coach Mike Tomlin.

“He’s in great shape, he’s highly conditioned, he’s chasing the ball and he’s developing the skill associated with the position,” Tomlin said. “He’s got a ways to go, but I like his attitude and approach.”

Squaring off against the starters on the offensive line should go a long way toward helping Tuitt develop quickly.

“These guys are the best at the level they are at,” Tuitt said. “To go against them every day is a blessing because these are some of the best offensive linemen in the NFL. They’re helping me become a better defensive lineman.”

Tuitt has displayed flashes during training camp practices. He has disrupted the pocket, stuffed the run, and batted down passes at the line of scrimmage. He still has a long way to go, but the progress in one week has been enough to earn the Steelers’ second-round pick a spot with the starters at least for now.

“He’s a great talent,” Heyward said. “He’s very raw, but I think he’s going to mature a lot this season. We’re really excited about what he’s going to do this year.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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