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Utah State’s Keeton ready for primetime

By WTOP Staff

ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton says he won’t be too overwhelmed on Sunday when the Aggies visit Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.

He’s already been there.

“When I was like 13 I played baseball and we went there for a tournament, and my dad and I snuck on the field,” he said. “So this isn’t my first time there, but it’s my first game.”

Keeton isn’t the type to get rattled by 100,000-plus fans anyway. The dual-threat senior quarterback for the Aggies is anxious to make his return from injury before a big crowd and on a national stage.

Keeton hasn’t played since last October against BYU, when he injured the ACL and MCL in his left knee and had to sit out the rest of the season.

“It’s really about getting back on the field. Last year when I tore my ACL halfway through the season, I had to watch my guys succeed from the sideline. It was tough. I’m a competitor. I wanted to share that success with them on the field.”

The Aggies wound up 9-5 last season, falling to Fresno State in the Mountain West championship game, but defeating Northern Illinois 21-14 in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Keeton’s return is already generating a lot of attention, and Utah State already has a website touting its quarterback for Heisman Trophy consideration. He certainly has the Volunteers’ interest.

“Obviously, Chuckie Keeton is a Heisman Trophy candidate and very deservedly so,” Vols coach Butch Jones said. “He adds a whole other element to the game, not only his speed and his quickness and the ability to make plays with his legs, but he’s not (just) a running quarterback. He’s a quarterback. He can make all the plays and all the throws.”

Keeton is considered among the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation, up there with Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and Auburn’s Nick Marshall.

Tennessee defensive tackle Jordan Williams even said Keeton reminds him a bit of Mariota. The Ducks defeated the visiting Vols 59-14 last season in Eugene, Oregon. Tennessee finished 5-7 in Jones’ debut season last year.

“We’ve just got to get somebody in his face,” Williams said.

In his five-plus games last season, Keeton still passed for 1,388 yards with 18 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He also rushed for 241 yards on 55 carries with two more scores.

In 28 games, he has completed 517 passes with 56 touchdowns. In 777 pass attempts, he’s thrown just 13 interceptions.

He leads Utah State in career completion percentage at .665. He’s second in touchdowns and completions, and he’s third in total offense with 7,114 yards.

Over the summer, Keeton worked on getting back into his game, serving as a counselor at the Manning Academy. He worked on getting his feet back after the injury.

“With the injury you have to put the training wheels back on,” he said, “learn to walk, then run, then jump and all of that. With football I had to get back to the fundamentals and the basics with my footwork. That’s one thing I’m proud to say that’s improved.”

Aggies coach Matt Wells has noticed a difference.

“I think he’s a little bit further ahead mentally in our offense. I think he’s playing faster and everything he does pre-snap is a little more advanced. He feels a little more comfortable in everything that we’re doing,” Wells said.

Keeton said all that’s left in his recovery is to go out and perform. The main goal isn’t the awards, but leading Utah State to national prominence, the conference championship and beyond.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about wins. I don’t think you’ve ever seen anyone win the Heisman and not have a lot of wins behind their name or behind their team’s name,” he said. “For me, I’m just really honored and humbled to represent my school.”

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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