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CB Golson’s improvement key for No. 10 Ole Miss

By WTOP Staff

DAVID BRANDT
AP Sports Writer

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi cornerback Senquez Golson’s biggest claim to fame had been an embarrassing play against Alabama in 2011, when Trent Richardson faked him two different times during a 76-yard touchdown run.

Now the senior is finally making some highlights that he’s proud to have shown.

The 5-foot-9, 176-pounder leads the Southeastern Conference with three interceptions so far this season, including one that was returned 59 yards for a touchdown in last weekend’s 56-15 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette.

“It took me about three years to get it right,” Golson said with a grin.

The 10th-ranked Rebels (3-0, 1-0 SEC) are off this weekend before a home game against Memphis on Sept. 27. A big reason for the team’s fast start — and highest national ranking since 2009 — is an opportunistic defense that already has eight interceptions.

Safeties Cody Prewitt, Tony Connor and Trae Elston were supposed to be the strength of the secondary coming into the season, and all three have been very good, but the emergence of Golson has given the Rebels a quality cover cornerback that is consistently making big plays.

Golson has always been a gifted athlete and there was some question if he’d even come to Ole Miss to play football. The Pascagoula, Mississippi, native was also a star baseball player in high school and drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2011 draft.

He chose college football and it’s a decision that’s looking much better in recent days after a mostly non-descript first three years in the program.

Freeze said Golson’s improvement can be traced back to a better attitude. He said Golson was never a serious problem child, but both the coach and the player said he wasn’t always focused enough on improving.

“This is, in my opinion, the first year he decided to really buy in,” Freeze said. “Not that he was anti-good things the last couple years, but there’s no question the way he comes to work every day, the way he allows me to coach him, he’s just a different guy. And when somebody does that and has success on the field it’s very rewarding.”

Golson said there was no epiphany that led to his better attitude, just the gradual realization that his college career was coming to a close.

“It was best for the team,” Golson said. “I’m a senior this year and I wanted to go out with a tradition with the corners, the secondary and the defense period. I just wanted to leave them with all the knowledge I’ve had from four years.”

Freeze and Golson both credit cornerbacks coach Jason Jones with aiding the secondary’s noticeable improvement. Freeze said Jones has “done a good job of coaching them technique and staying in the correct position on deep balls.”

Golson said Jones’ advice on the mental side of the game — and about life in general — has been just as valuable.

“We’re playing some good football and my teammates are keeping everyone up,” Golson said. “As far as the defense and the offense, we’re just one team now and it makes a big difference. The atmosphere around here is different.”

___

Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP

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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