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Darren Sproles making impact in Philly

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — His quick feet and powerful bursts make Darren Sproles a threat to score whenever he touches the ball.

That’s why the Philadelphia Eagles are finding more ways to use him.

Sproles has already made a big impact in his first two games with his new team, earning the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award after a dynamic performance in last Monday’s 30-27 comeback win at Indianapolis.

Sproles had a career-high 152 yards receiving, including catches of 57 and 51 yards on short passes. He also ran for a 19-yard touchdown to help the Eagles rally from a 17-6 halftime deficit. Sproles had a 49-yard TD run in the season opener for Philadelphia (2-0).

“We’re using him in a way that we can best take advantage of his skillset,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. “He’s done an outstanding job.”

When the Eagles learned Sproles was going to be released in the offseason, they traded a fifth-round pick to New Orleans to make sure they got him. Coach Chip Kelly viewed Sproles as a perfect fit in his up-tempo offense.

He takes some of the burden off All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy while also playing a key role in the passing game.

Sproles has 11 catches for 166 yards and 97 yards rushing on 15 carries. He has returned six punts, too.

Considering his age (31) and size (5-foot-6), some wonder if Sproles can hold up over a full season if he’s getting the ball that often.

“He’s 200 pounds; he’s short but he’s not small and I think there’s a difference,” Kelly said. “When you look at Darren, he’s really, really put together and he’s probably the most fit guy on our team. There’s a special quality to him from that standpoint, and I don’t know that we knew that when we got him.

“When we first looked at him, obviously the dynamic ability as a returner jumps out at you, his ability to catch the ball coming out of the backfield and as I said after a couple days dealing with him, really impressed with him as a running back. He’s a little different than your prototypical small guy.”

His height actually helps Sproles because he can hide behind blockers and get lost in the scramble before hitting the second level into the secondary.

“He has the ability to go from 0-to-60 very quickly,” Kelly said. “A lot of guys, sometimes it takes them a while to get going. He can kind of find his way out into the screen, whether he’s got to go inside the tackle or outside the tackle, and then be patient enough once he gets the ball to take off.

“But I think he also has great vision to understand where his blocks are coming from and sets them up really, really well. When he has the opportunity to go, he can hit it really, really quickly. So he’s got a unique skill set. I also think he’s difficult to see sometimes when he’s coming up inside the line of scrimmage and working it out into the screen path.”

Sproles was known for being a gamebreaking returner during his first five seasons in San Diego. He had four touchdowns on punts and kickoffs, and backed up three-time All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

Sproles became more involved in the offense in his three seasons in New Orleans. He caught 86 passes in 2011 and averaged 77 catches per year with the Saints. He’s on pace to have 88 receptions and 120 carries this season. Both would be career highs.

Kelly was coy in the preseason about how he planned to use Sproles. Putting him with McCoy together in the backfield gives defenses fits.

“When we’re on the field at the same time they don’t know who’s getting the ball or what we’re doing,” Sproles said.

The Eagles host the Washington Redskins (1-1) on Sunday.

NOTES: LB Mychal Kendricks will not play vs. the Redskins because of a calf injury. Casey Matthews and Emmanuel Acho will team up to replace him. WR Josh Huff (shoulder) is doubtful. Backup T Matt Tobin (ankle) and S Earl Wolff (knee) are questionable.

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

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

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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