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Oklahoma QB Knight returns to spotlight

By WTOP Staff

CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Trevor Knight will return to the big stage with a chance to show he’s more than a one-hit wonder.

Oklahoma’s sophomore quarterback, best known for his MVP performance in the Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, will face a Southeastern Conference team again Saturday when the fourth-ranked Sooners host Tennessee in a game on national TV. It will be his first real test since ripping Alabama for 348 yards and four touchdowns in January.

“It’s a big one,” he said. “We’ve had this circled for a while.”

In two games this season, Knight has completed 59 percent of his passes for 552 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He also has rushed for 52 yards on nine carries. He has built a special connection with Sterling Shepard, who has 12 catches for 226 yards and two touchdowns this season.

Tennessee has allowed averages of 13 points and 260 yards in wins over Utah State and Arkansas State. Volunteers coach Butch Jones said this challenge is much different, largely because of Knight.

“He’s managing their offense,” Jones said. “Dual threat, some designed quarterback runs, also some scrambles and making all the throws. He looks extremely comfortable, but also very, very, very confident. He can do it all.”

Here are some things to watch in Saturday’s game.

SEC-BIG 12 RIVALRY: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has made it clear the past few years that he believes the difference between the SEC and the Big 12 isn’t as big as some make it seem. The Sooners feel they have a lot to prove for the Big 12 on Saturday.

“The Big 12 gets hounded regardless, whether it’s OU, Iowa State, Kansas,” Oklahoma cornerback Zack Sanchez said. “We get hounded as a whole conference. To go out there and make a statement for our whole conference would be huge.”

OKLAHOMA’S GROUND GAME: Knight gets the headlines, but Oklahoma’s running game is equally dangerous. Keith Ford has rushed for 138 yards, Alex Ross for 126 yards and Samaje Perine for 110. They keep the pile moving forward — the three of them have just one negative yard this season. The Sooners have rushed for 444 yards and 6.3 yards per carry in their first two games.

“It’s just being able to have a fresh set of legs going at the defense all the time,” Stoops said. “They all have power and size to them to go with it.”

WORLEY’S IMPROVEMENT: Tennessee quarterback Justin Worley threw 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions last year. So far this season, he has tossed five touchdown passes and one interception. He’s completed 65 percent of his passes this season compared to 56 percent a year ago. It will be a challenge for Worley to be as efficient against an Oklahoma front seven that has said more than once that it believes it is the nation’s best.

“Justin is not even close to being the same quarterback he was last year,” Jones said. “He’s poised, he’s confident. Yeah, is he going to be challenged? Yes.”

VOLS’ INJURED TARGETS: Starting receiver Von Pearson is out this week because of a high ankle sprain, and starting tight end Ethan Wolf is questionable with a bruised knee. Pearson is second on the team with 98 yards receiving and Wolf is tied for second on the team with eight receptions. That leaves Worley possibly without two of his best targets against a team that in two games has allowed 212.5 yards passing per contest and intercepted four passes. The Volunteers still have athletic 6-foot-4 receiver Marquez North, who leads the team with 106 yards and two touchdowns. It will be interesting to see if he can be effective if both Pearson and Wolf are out.

SANCHEZ’S SHOULDER: Oklahoma’s star cornerback has four interceptions in his past five games, but he took a helmet to the shoulder early last Saturday against Tulsa and left the game for good. The sophomore said it was a mild shoulder sprain, and he will play with pain. It will be worth seeing how aggressive he is when it’s time to make a tackle.

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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP .

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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