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Margus Hunt emerging on Bengals line

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — When defensive end Margus Hunt lined up during training camp as a rookie, his new Cincinnati Bengals teammates couldn’t help but think of a movie character.

He repeatedly got compared to Ivan Drago from “Rocky IV.” As a crew for HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series filmed one practice, teammate Geno Atkins mentioned that the 6-foot-8, 290-pound lineman has a physique like that of the Russian boxer.

“Everyone keeps talking about that,” Hunt says while the cameras roll.

Then he played along, lining up and reciting Drago’s memorable line.

“I must break you,” he says.

In his second season, he’s not fooling. Hunt has made several highlight-reel plays during the Bengals’ two preseason games, showing he’s fast getting the feel for what is essentially a new sport. And he’s showing his teammates why Cincinnati took him in the second round last year.

“He’s so strong,” defensive tackle Domata Peko said Monday. “It’s good to see him moving guys around. With Michael Johnson gone, we’re really going to need him to step up.”

Johnson left as a free agent after last season, creating an opening for a pass rusher at end. Hunt is getting a chance to earn a prominent role in Cincinnati’s rotation. Halfway through the preseason, the coaching staff sees enormous progress from a year ago.

“He does keep doing good things,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “We’re going to keep pressing him and keep giving him opportunity to do those things and keep growing.”

He had a lot of room to grow.

The Estonian went to Southern Methodist as a track star. When the school disbanded the program, he tried football for the first time, using his strength and speed to block kicks. He was still raw as a player when the Bengals drafted him.

He was inactive for most of the first half last season, but gradually got some playing time and showed bursts of the talent that made him worthy of a second-round pick. He shared a sack, had seven quarterback pressures and four tackles. He also learned a lot by lining up against offensive tackles Andre Smith and Anthony Collins in practice.

“The other thing I had to kind of get used to was how to play the game on the line and play against offensive linemen like this who are veterans and know how to use their leverage,” Hunt said.

During the first preseason game, Hunt got Chiefs tackle Jeff Linkenbach moving backward and shoved him aside with one arm to get to the quarterback. Against the Jets on Saturday night, Hunt pushed through the line to tackle a running back for a loss.

He doesn’t look lost anymore.

“It’s like day and night,” Peko said. “He’s been playing a lot more aggressive this year. We’re excited about how he’s coming along. He’s starting to get the game more. He’s still sort of new to football. It seems like he’s starting to get the mental part.”

Hunt’s biggest adjustment was learning what’s expected of an NFL defensive end. It took him time to become familiar with all the alignments and assignments in Cincinnati’s 4-3 system. In his second training camp, it’s second-nature.

“I feel it’s been going really well,” he said. “It’s definitely different because I have more time in the system, know more about the defense. I’ve been able to play a lot faster because I’m more comfortable with what we’re doing out there.”

Those two shove-’em-aside plays in the preseason are the best evidence. Anytime a pass rusher can just push a blocker out of the way to get to the passer or the runner, it’s especially pleasing.

“But at the same time, you’re going against another guy who’s big and strong,” Hunt said. “There’s a certain time and point for every move like that. You just have to be smart with it.”

___

Online: 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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