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Improved diet, sleep habits help Arkansas’ Collins

By WTOP Staff

KURT VOIGT
AP Sports Writer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Alex Collins never paid quite as much attention in high school to his diet and sleeping habits as he did his performance on the football field.

Thanks to the constant needling of coach Bret Bielema, the Razorbacks’ running back appears to have finally found a balance between his off- and on-the-field preparations — much to the dismay of opposing defenses.

Collins ran his way into the Southeastern Conference spotlight a year ago, rushing for 1,026 yards while earning the league’s Freshman of the Year honors.

As good as the Florida native was, Bielema knew he could be even better if he would eat more regularly, eliminate much of his fast-food intake and stop spending so many late nights awake on Twitter rather than resting.

Collins finally heeded his coach’s advice following last season, and the result has been a far different look for the 5-foot-11 sophomore — who now weighs 218 pounds after playing at 204 last year.

“I now eat breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Collins said. “That’s a big part of it, and that’s basically it. Just doing everything the right way, going to workouts, working hard and eating after that because it would be waste if you’re working out and burning all the energy and not replacing it with a good meal.”

Despite the added weight, Collins has shown no signs of slowing down this season. He has 199 yards rushing through two games to lead the Razorbacks (1-1), who play at Texas Tech (2-0) on Saturday, and he’s shown his usual quick feet and ability to make defenders miss — particularly on a 33-yard touchdown run last week against Nicholls State.

Collins ran through a defender’s arm tackle on the run, which was exactly what he hoped for when he decided to add the extra weight and take better care of his body.

Even Bielema admitted some surprise at how well Collins has maintained his agility with the extra weight, though it’s come as no surprise to the running back.

“I think he understood now, ‘Wait a minute. You mean if I lift the way they want me lift and I eat the way I’m supposed to eat and I sleep the way I’m supposed to sleep, I might get better,'” Bielema said. “And (when) that light bulb goes off, some really good things could happen.”

Arkansas is third in the SEC in rushing offense with an average of 324 yards per game, thanks in large part of a 495-yard outburst in a 73-7 win over the Colonels last week.

Collins had three touchdowns in the win while gaining 131 yards on 13 carries, but it was junior Jonathan Williams who led the Razorbacks with 143 yards rushing on just four carries.

The talented duo combined to rush for 1,926 yards last season, and the Razorbacks ground game is expected the receive another boost on Saturday with the return of sophomore Korliss Marshall, who missed last week due to injury.

The three, along with Arkansas’ physical offensive line, have the full attention of the Red Raiders, who have struggled this season to wins over Central Arkansas and UTEP.

“It’s going to be such a step up from what we’ve seen the first couple (of) weeks,” Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “We’re going to have to handle it. We’re going to have to play better on both sides of the ball, particularly up front, to hang in there and not let them just hand it off all day.”

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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