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49ers’ Davis, McDonald questionable for Sunday

By WTOP Staff

RICK EYMER
Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis did some light running and caught passes from a machine Friday and remains questionable for Sunday’s game at the Arizona Cardinals.

Davis, recovering from an ankle injury suffered during the 49ers’ loss to the Chicago Bears, said he would be ready to play if he’s given the green light, despite missing the week of practice.

Backup tight end Vance McDonald, recovering from a knee injury also suffered in the loss, could also return to action. He’s listed as questionable.

“I’m always optimistic in all phases of my life,” McDonald said. “If it were up to me, I’m going. We’re being patient with it.”

Derek Carrier and Kyle Nelson, who is the team’s long snapper, are the only healthy tight ends available. Carrier, a second-year player, caught his first three career passes during the fourth quarter against the Bears.

“We’re confident in Derek,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “He played well the other night. He’s a good player.”

49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Carrier has a lot of upside and that he’s been involved in practice since Day 1 with quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

“There’s definitely things he needs to work on, but he’s done a nice job,” Roman said. “He has a good feel for the passing game and has really improved his blocking in this preseason. That was the number one thing that I’ve been most pleased with.”

Nelson, who scored a pair of touchdowns in the preseason, would most likely be used only in an emergency, though Harbaugh acknowledged he was encouraged by Nelson’s pass-catching ability.

“Anything is possible,” Harbaugh said. “You always like to have those options and have your opponent think that there could be any option available.”

McDonald and center Daniel Kilgore serve as Nelson’s backup at long snapper.

Meanwhile, Davis said he felt fine after Friday’s practice.

“It feels great right now,” he said. “I’m just going to take it slow and leave it to the trainers and coaches.”

Davis familiarized himself with the game plan, not just in case he can play but also if he could provide some input for Carrier.

“I’ve been through a lot,” Davis said. “It’s like anything. You get injured, you come back, and you make the transition.”

Tight ends have caught 11 passes for 133 yards and a pair of touchdowns (both by Davis) this year.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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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