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49ers’ Derek Carrier ready to step in at tight end

By WTOP Staff

ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Derek Carrier’s decisions to attend a small liberal arts college in Wisconsin and drop basketball for football paid off when he earned a spot on the San Francisco 49ers this season after spending most of the last two years on NFL practice squads.

Now he could get the biggest chance of his career.

With leading tight ends Vernon Davis and Vance McDonald nursing injuries, Carrier is expected to play a heavy dose of snaps when the 49ers (1-1) visit the Arizona Cardinals (2-0) on Sunday. Carrier caught his first three passes for 41 yards in San Francisco’s 28-20 loss to the Chicago Bears last week after Davis and McDonald went down.

“He plays fearless,” quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. “He goes out, he’s going to give you everything he has and he’s willing to go and make a play.”

Carrier’s career has come quite a long way.

He played football and basketball in his first two years at Beloit College, a liberal arts school in Wisconsin. He chose to focus on football his final two years, went undrafted and spent part of 2012 on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad before playing two games with the 49ers late last season.

Carrier said he went with football over basketball because it was a better fit. By his junior year, he said he was a small forward playing at 225 pounds.

“I probably outweighed everyone on the court by 30 pounds,” said Carrier, who is 6-foot-4 and about 250 pounds now.

Carrier’s time on the hardwood wasn’t a total loss, though. He said his basketball experience helped hone his footwork and hand-eye coordination, which are valuable traits as a blocker and pass catcher in the NFL.

“I think the basketball aspect deals more with just general athleticism,” Carrier said. “I think a lot of the moves you have in basketball are similar, posting up, being able to move with your feet and your hands, it translates on the football field.”

Carrier turned down an offer to be a preferred walk-on at Big Ten powerhouse Wisconsin for Beloit because he didn’t want to wait two or three years to play — and he wasn’t thinking about an NFL career back then, anyway.

Carrier started all four years at Beloit, setting school records for receptions (189), yards (3,111) and touchdowns (29). But it still wasn’t enough to get drafted, especially from a Division III school.

He worked his way up from the practice squad, first with the Eagles and then the 49ers. He finally got a chance last November — albeit a much smaller one — when backup tight end Garrett Celek was out with a hamstring injury.

Carrier should get more time this Sunday, but he said he’s approaching this week like any other.

“I just try to focus individually on what I need to do to help the team win on Sunday. I just go out there and execute and do the best I can,” he said.

Davis is nursing a left ankle injury that had him on crutches Wednesday and walking with an exaggerated limp in front of reporters in the locker room Thursday. McDonald missed practice for the second straight day because of an injured knee.

How much Carrier plays is still unclear, too.

“I think he’s very well-respected around here,” Kaepernick said. “Everyone has noticed and has seen what he’s done and the work he’s put in. So, it’s great to see him go out and make plays and contribute.”

Offensive coordinator Greg Roman called Carrier an “ascending player” on the roster and said he has improved as a blocker, which was his biggest hurdle to clear as a former wide receiver facing smaller cornerbacks on the outside. Coach Jim Harbaugh has credited Carrier for taking advantage of his opportunities when called upon.

“He understands his role, his ability and now getting the experience to go out and do it,” Harbaugh said. “He’s done several times, and he’s gotten better and better and better. I think that’s been probably the most positive thing is the improvement he makes every time that he steps on the field.”

NOTES: RT Anthony Davis worked out on a side field and is likely to miss his third straight game with a hamstring injury. … CB Tramaine Brock (toe) also was among those who did not practice.

___

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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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