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Top 2 Jayhawks RBs sustain season-ending injuries

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The top two running backs on the Kansas depth chart will each miss their senior season after Brandon Bourbon tore his ACL and Taylor Cox tore his Achilles’ tendon in separate incidents.

Jayhawks coach Charlie Weis announced the injuries in a statement Tuesday. He said that both of the players will remain in school and could petition for a sixth year of eligibility.

“I feel bad for both Brandon and Taylor as they were looking forward to the opportunity to be the replacement for James Sims,” Weis said. “I sat down with each of them individually and talked through their options and was happy that they chose to further their education, while attempting to play again next year if things work out.”

Bourbon, who tore his knee ligament during a scrimmage on Sunday, was listed first on the most recent depth chart. The 225-pound senior has battled injuries throughout much of his career, running for 422 yards and four touchdowns over parts of three seasons.

Cox, who hurt his tendon in a non-contact drill Monday, spent his first two seasons at College of the Siskiyous in California. He started three times as a junior and ran for 464 yards, but he was forced to take a medical redshirt after appearing in just two games last season.

Both of them were trying to replace Sims, who finished his career with 3,592 yards rushing, the third-most in school history. Sims ran for 1,155 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

The injuries leave junior college transfer De’Andre Mann and freshman Corey Avery as the top two running backs. Mann piled up more than 1,700 yards rushing last season for California’s Hartnell College, while Avery ran for more than 1,600 yards for Carter High School in Dallas.

“While De’Andre and Corey lack experience on the Division I level, they both have had excellent camps,” said Weis, who also could use wide receiver Tony Pierson at running back.

Depth at the position has already been a problem for the Jayhawks. Darrian Miller transferred to Northern Iowa over the summer after a series of off-the-field issues, and highly touted freshman Traevohn Wrench failed to qualify and will spend the season at a junior college.

In an attempt to fill the void, Weis also announced Tuesday that he had made the rare decision to move freshman safety Joe Dineen Jr. to running back. Dineen played quarterback at nearby Lawrence Free State High School, but he still ran for nearly 800 yards his senior season.

“I surveyed our roster and felt Joe was the best answer to help offensive depth while not greatly hindering the defense,” Weis said. “He and I met after practice Monday and I gave him the choice. He was happy to move in the best interest of the team.”

Weis also announced through a school spokesman that the remainder of fall practices will be closed to reporters. The media had previously been allowed to watch the first 20 minutes of each session on days when players are made available.

The Jayhawks open the season Sept. 6 against Southeast Missouri State.

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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