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Florida State WR Christian Green would start today

By WTOP Staff

KAREEM COPELAND
Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said senior Christian Green would start opposite senior receiver Rashad Greene if the season were to begin today.

The Seminoles held their final scrimmage of camp Tuesday before the season opener against Oklahoma State on Aug. 30.

The receiver position is the biggest question mark on the team after losing Carolina Panthers’ first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin and Kenny Shaw to the NFL. The pair accounted for nearly 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.

“I feel very comfortable with eight guys in that rotation right now,” Fisher said. “That’s not playing them all, but I’d feel very comfortable if they had to go into the football game.”

Green (6-foot-2, 204 pounds) caught 13 passes for 157 yards in 2013 and did not show any consistency in his first three years after catching 26 balls for 450 yards as a freshman in 2011. The competition in camp has included senior Scooter Haggins, sophomores Kermit Whitfield and Bobo Wilson and five-star freshmen Travis Rudolph and Ermon Lane.

Fisher praised Rudolph, Lane and freshman Ja’Vonn Harrison after the scrimmage and said all three will play this season. He doesn’t plan to redshirt any of the trio.

“They had some mistakes today, but they’re really starting to understand how to play,” Fisher said. “Travis had a really good day. Ja’Vonn really grew up and had some nice plays today.

“The last three to four days we’ve really thrown and caught the ball extremely well.”

Rudolph (6-2, 184 pounds) is the most polished of the freshman, but has missed chunks of camp due to a foot injury. Lane (6-3, 206 pounds) has the most size and physicality of the three. Harrison (6-2, 197) has been in their shadow as a four-star recruit, but has been regularly mentioned by Fisher.

Wilson (5-9, 177) and Whitfield (5-7, 183) are expected to be speedy threats as slot receivers, but receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey said they can play outside, also.

Dawsey said he’s simply looking for playmakers.

“I don’t care if it’s a senior, freshman, sophomore, whoever,” Dawsey said. “I’m just looking for guys to be consistent making plays. If we have to use a committee or one steps up, it doesn’t matter. We’re just looking for consistency.”

Greene, who is ranked in the top seven in FSU history in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, has taken it upon himself to drag the rest of the group to a higher level as a leader and teacher. There’s a huge drop-off in career statistics after Greene at the moment, but neither Benjamin nor Shaw had spectacular numbers before their breakout seasons in 2013.

“Not being cocky or anything, but I take it very seriously and I want them to take it very seriously,” Greene said. “I hold them to a higher standard than myself because without them I’m nothing. So, I definitely need my teammates to get on board with me and play to my level.”

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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