Skip to main content

South Carolina, Texas A&M feature new starters

By WTOP Staff

PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina and Texas A&M find out this week what life’s like minus two of college football’s most transcendent, attention-grabbing stars of recent years.

There will no Jadeveon Clowney-Johnny Manziel matchup in this one.

Had this game been played last year fans would’ve clear their schedules to watch the helmet-popping defensive end chase the reigning Heisman Trophy winner around Williams-Brice Stadium. With Clowney and Manziel in the NFL, those viewing the SEC Network’s first football broadcast might need rosters and slo-mo replays Thursday night to catch all the new faces.

“They are probably a little bit like us that they haven’t had a bunch of superstars to talk about this preseason,” said Steve Spurrier, the Gamecocks’ 10th-year coach. “Their players are anxious to earn their way, just like our guys.”

Sophomore Darius English takes over Clowney’s starting spot for No. 9 South Carolina after backup duty last season. Kenny Hill, also a sophomore, replaces Johnny Football in the No. No. 21 Aggies’ huddle. Hill passed for 183 yards and a TD in four games last fall.

The 6-foot-6 English got a chance to start against Kentucky when Clowney, also 6-6, pulled himself from the game shortly before kickoff. English finished the season with 19 tackles and a forced fumble against North Carolina.

“Darius has had a really great camp and a great spring,” defensive line coach Deke Adams said. “Hopefully, he’ll get a chance to show it on Thursday night.”

English was named a Georgia state defensive player of the year after notching 21 sacks his senior season at McEachern High in Powder Springs, Georgiaa But he was a lanky, easily pushed around 205 pounds when he arrived on campus. English has added about 40 pounds since and feels like he’s able to hold his ground and push back when challenged.

English has a quick first-step and a wing span of 7 feet that helps sweep past offensive lineman, according to Adams.

“I can get in there and bang with those guys,” English said.

The good news for Gamecocks’ fans is he won’t be chasing Manziel.

The guy with the target on his back will be Hill, who won the Texas A&M quarterback competition over five-star freshman Kyle Allen. The two competed after longtime backup Matt Joeckel transferred to TCU in April.

Hill, the son of long time major leaguer Ken Hill Sr., showed more polish and experience and will start against the Gamecocks, offensive coordinator Jake Spavital said.

“The experience of being here and watching how we do (things) offensively and seeing Johnny play has helped him,” Texas A&M offensive coordinator Jake Spavital said. “He’s seen more than Kyle (Allen) has right now and that was important. He’s our guy and we’re putting all our eggs in that basket.”

Hill passed for 183 yards and a touchdown in four games last season.

Don’t expect the same, “Johnny Dollar” flash from the Aggies latest quarterback. Hill told team officials he wanted to wait until after playing South Carolina before discussing his starting status.

That focus on the field has offensive coordinator Jake Spavital smiling. “There’ll be a lot less repeating myself than last year with Johnny,” the coach said.

English and Hill won’t be the only newcomers on the field.

South Carolina will have several new faces on defense, and a new quarterback in Dylan Thompson. He was the backup the past three years as Connor Shaw led the team to a 33-6 record.

But don’t expect the Aggies to fill sorry for the Gamecocks; Texas A&M also lost several starters to the NFL.

Along with Manziel’s selection by Cleveland, standout receiver Mike Evans was taken by Tampa Bay and guard Jake Matthews went to Atlanta.

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said to expect a heavy rotation of players as the Aggies look to see what this new group can do.

“Our team is in a place right now where they’re excited to play,” he said. “There’s been enough said outside the program about what we are and the guys are anxious to get on the field.”

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