Skip to main content

Oregon State’s Gwacham goes from WR to DE

By WTOP Staff

ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Obum Gwacham wants one more chance to make an impact at Oregon State.

Having struggled at wide receiver his entire college career, the 6-foot-5 senior is switching to defensive end for the Beavers.

He jokes that maybe his biggest catch is ahead of him — in the form of an interception.

“We actually have the dime package in now, and I’ll probably be back there if any team tries to throw a Hail Mary,” he laughed. “I’ll try to bat the ball down or get an interception. You know, just using my skills.”

Defensive line coach Joe Seumalo planted the idea of coming over to the defense last season, Gwacham said. Following Oregon State’s victory over Boise State in the Hawaii Bowl, he started seriously considering the possibility for his last year.

Gwacham always had an uneven career at receiver. Over three seasons plagued by injury and inconsistency, he’d had just 11 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, although he also played on special teams.

Gwacham talked it over with his family, but really it was a no-brainer. If he didn’t try the defense, would he always wonder, “What if?”

“I had no problem saying yes,” he said.

Born in Nigeria, Gwacham and his family came to the United States when he was 7 and settled in Chino Hills, California. Gwacham was captain of both the football and track teams at Ayala High School. His big brother, Nnamdi, played receiver and was on the track team at Utah State.

Gwacham, who is 6-foot-5, redshirted in football his freshman year at Oregon State, but took part in track and field events. He has moonlighted as a high jumper off and on for the Beavers, even though the school doesn’t have an official men’s track and field team. Back in 2010, Gwacham finished fourth at the conference championships with a leap of 7 feet, 1 1/2 inches.

It was always hoped that because of his height and athleticism (in addition to his jumping ability he’s also fast), Gwacham would become an easy red-zone target for quarterback Sean Mannion. But instead, Markus Wheaton and Brandin Cooks — both now in the NFL — developed into Oregon State’s go-to receivers. This season, junior Richard Mullaney is poised for a breakout at the position.

So now Gwacham is competing for the spot opposite starting DE Dylan Wynn. Oregon State is shoring up the position after Scott Crichton decided to leave school a year early for the NFL.

“I think Joshua James and Obum Gwacham are doing well. I think Titus Failauga is doing well. I think we’re gonna maybe not have one, have two or three guys who can play,” coach Mike Riley said. “We’ve always been historically a good rotating team, if indeed we can rotate. That’s our goal.”

Riley said Gwacham is likely to be used in third-down pass-rush situations, although he’s made enough progress to be worked into a number of scenarios.

Gwacham is hopeful he’ll be able to make his mark for the Beavers, who went 7-6 last season, capped by the Hawaii Bowl victory.

“It’s a new position but a lot of things still apply. As a receiver you’re going up against a defensive back, now I’m going up against an offensive tackle or a tight end, someone who is a little bigger,” he said. “You’re still trying to get by them. But I’d say the hardest part is going against someone who is twice your size.”

Gwacham worked hard to gain weight and add muscle in the eight months since his decision. He’s added more than 12 pounds since last season.

He said what has helped him most is being a quick learner, as well as his work on special teams.

But there are still some things that surprise him.

“It’s funny because the other day we were running a fly sweep. Being on the other side I was usually watching the fly sweep run past the defensive end,” he said. “This time I was the defensive end and he ran right by. When that happened I was like, ‘Ah, now I know what they feel like.'”

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote