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Ingram’s confidence surging after strong outings

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram isn’t letting a humbling start to his pro career lower his opinion of what he can still accomplish in the NFL.

With 1,605 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns in his first three pro seasons, Alabama’s first Heisman Trophy winner is now a widely perceived under-achiever in the NFL.

Still, Ingram said this week that he sees in himself the potential to be one of the most productive and dynamic running backs in NFL history.

“If somebody’s out here playing the game and they don’t want to be the best ever to play the game, I don’t think they’re doing the right thing,” Ingram said. “I would’ve said it as a rookie. I would’ve said it 10 years ago. I’ll say it 10 years from now.”

While the preseason doesn’t always offer a true reflection of a player’s growth, Ingram’s performance through a pair of exhibition games seems to back up his assertion that he is increasingly comfortable with what it takes to succeed as an NFL running back — from reading defenses to setting up blocks to pass-blocking.

He even appears more involved in the passing game, turning a short catch into a 23-yard touchdown in last Friday night’s 31-24 preseason victory over Tennessee.

“In high school I played receiver. If you look at my recruiting (bio), it says, ‘Athlete,'” Ingram noted. “In college, I caught a lot of passes.”

Indeed, many believe he won over 2009 Heisman voters with his 69-yard gain on a screen pass in Alabama’s 2009 SEC Championship game victory over Florida.

Ingram has only 24 career receptions for 143 yards and no touchdowns in the NFL, but catching the ball is in his genes. His father, Mark Ingram Sr., played wide receiver in the NFL for 10 seasons, mostly with the New York Giants.

“Running routes and catching footballs was one of the first things I did when I was young. So I’m comfortable catching passes, comfortable running routes,” Ingram said. “I haven’t had a lot of opportunity to do that here. But I think I can be just as good as anybody else.”

This would be a good time to prove it. Ingram is in the final year of his rookie contract after the Saints declined to exercise a fifth-year option. That gives Ingram obvious incentive to be his best yet, though he insists his motivation hasn’t changed.

“It is important, obviously,” Ingram said of his contract situation. “But every year is important. Just to say I put more emphasis on this year than the past three years just because of my contract year is ridiculous.”

Saints assistant coach Bret Ingalls, who doubles as offensive line coach and running game coordinator, has worked with Ingram since his rookie season and said Ingram’s work ethic and perseverance is paying off.

“We just kept reminding Mark to hang in there, keep working hard, do the best you can, and you can see a result here after three years,” Ingalls said. “He looks like a guy that gets it and is going to gain yards maybe you haven’t seen in the past.

“Look, it doesn’t come easy and it doesn’t come to everyone,” Ingalls continued, “but what we’ve seen (going into) this fall, we’re pretty cranked up.”

Ingram had high hopes heading into last season, only to struggle behind a new zone blocking scheme before sitting out several games with a toe injury. However, he was among the Saints’ most effective running backs late last season, rushing for 146 yards in two playoff games.

“You see some confidence from playing well, from breaking some runs and I think getting a better feel for what we’re doing and where he wants to be,” right tackle Zach Strief said of Ingram. “He’s not thinking. He’s reacting, which obviously at that position is important.”

While Ingram rushed for only 386 yards last season, he also finished with an average of nearly 5 yards per carry. Through two preseason games, he’s carried 13 times for 102 — an average of 7.8 yards per carry — and had a 22-yard scoring run.

“I’m comfortable in the system, comfortable in the offense, familiar with how the offensive line is going to do their scheme — how they’re going to attack blocks and what their landmarks are,” Ingram said. “That comes with growing a lot, having years and (repetitions) in the league. Going on Year 4, I’m feeling a lot more comfortable and a lot more confident.

“I know I’m an all-purpose back, a complete back,” he added. “I can do everything.”

Notes: S Jairus Byrd, the Saints’ top free agent acquisition on defense, practiced fully Tuesday for the first time since signing with the club in March. Cleared for contact after spending months rehabilitating from back surgery, he even lowered his shoulder into Ingram during 11-on-11 drills. … Those missing practice included CBs Keenan Lewis and Patrick Robinson, who have minor undisclosed injuries; WR Brandin Cooks, sidelined a second straight day with an illness; and LG Ben Grubbs, who had left practice with an undisclosed ailment Monday. Grubbs has missed most of training camp because of back soreness that sidelined him for much of the first few weeks of camp.

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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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