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Panthers WR Benjamin has room to grow

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — While Kelvin Benjamin’s NFL debut was a smashing success statistically, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said the rookie wide receiver still has plenty of mistakes to correct this Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

Benjamin caught six passes for a team-high 92 yards and a touchdown last Sunday to help Carolina beat Tampa Bay 20-14.

Rivera rewarded the team’s 6-foot-5, 245-pound first-round draft pick with a game ball for his production — but also reminded him there are areas in his game he needs to address.

Rivera said Benjamin’s evaluation grade “should have been higher.”

“He did a lot of good things and he was very productive but that doesn’t speak to the whole body” of work, Rivera said.

Rivera said the 24-year-old Benjamin, who started just one year at Florida State before turning pro after his sophomore season, needs to learn the important nuances of the NFL game.

Specifically he said Benjamin failed to release outside of the numbers on one play, a strategy used to pull an extra defensive back his way and free up a teammate on a passing play.

Rivera also said Benjamin “bent in” a post route when he should have kept running — an error that resulted in an incompletion instead of a potential Carolina touchdown.

Benjamin also was flagged for a block in the back.

“He has to understand how important it is to be aligned properly and in the right spot and how important it is to release a certain way,” Rivera said. “These are all things that young rookies learn and develop over a period of time. You just don’t come into the league and understand the significance.”

Rivera added Benjamin “has to understand how to be involved in the play even though the ball is not coming to you.”

Benjamin said he plans to keep soaking in advice and getting better.

“It’s about the team,” Benjamin said. “You can come out and catch all of the balls but you don’t want to be a selfish-type guy, you want to be a team guy.”

Said linebacker Luke Kuechly: “The thing that is good about Kelvin is his demeanor is always the same. He’s willing to work hard and he takes coaching well. … He’s going to be just fine.”

Rivera couldn’t be happier with some of the plays Benjamin made, including a 26-yard touchdown reception from Derek Anderson with Tampa Bay cornerback Mike Jenkins draped all over him.

“He made a lot of good plays when we needed him to,” Rivera said.

This week Benjamin will be catching passes from Cam Newton, who will return to the starting lineup after missing the season opener with a rib injury. The two have developed a close relationship on and off the field.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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