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Ishmael Adams making big plays for No. 8 UCLA

By WTOP Staff

DAN GREENSPAN
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A day after No. 8 UCLA’s pummeling of Arizona State, Ishmael Adams couldn’t help himself.

The Bruins cornerback decided to violate coach Jim Mora’s rule about moving on from the previous game after 24 hours, and he took one more look at the 62-27 victory.

“I watched the interception again right before I went to sleep,” Adams said. “It was something good to go to sleep to.”

For the Sun Devils, Adams was an absolute nightmare. His 95-yard interception return for a touchdown just before halftime began a Bruins avalanche, and Adams abetted it with his 100-yard kick return for another TD early in the third quarter. He was named the Pac-12 special teams player of the week on Monday.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” quarterback Brett Hundley said. “Ishmael is one of the hardest-working players on this team, so when he does stuff like that, it just shows how much he works. To us, that’s what he does.”

In his junior season, Adams has emerged as one of the most dynamic players in the FBS with the ball in his hands.

He leads the Pac-12 in kickoff returns this season, averaging 28.2 yards per play. Add in his punt returns and a second interception return for a touchdown in the season opener at Virginia, and Adams is averaging 26.8 yards per touch, a mark that would be even higher if a punt return for a touchdown against the Cavaliers hadn’t been negated by a penalty.

Adams is also a centerpiece in the UCLA secondary, leading the team in passes defended and ranking fifth in tackles. While he lacks the size that is so in vogue to defend bigger receivers, the 5-foot-8 Adams makes up for it with his athleticism, understanding of passing game concepts, and a competitive spirit that linebacker Eric Kendricks termed “that saltiness we need.”

Receiver Jordan Payton, who played with Adams in high school, went one step further.

“He is nasty,” said Payton, who added that Adams is more “fiery now” than he was at Oaks Christian in Westlake Village, California.

“He gets physical, and I think that is his strong suit,” Hundley said. “He might not be the tallest corner, but he is big and built to go against taller receivers.”

“You want to go against Ishmael, you better come prepared for sure,” Payton said.

It was a desire to establish himself on defense that kept Adams from pushing for a larger special teams role until late last season. Payton is glad that Adams is contributing there now, pointing to the tangible benefits for the UCLA offense from his returns.

“It changes the play-calls now,” Payton said. “You have a competitive advantage as far as field position is concerned, so you can go into the meat of your offense and run the things you are used to.”

But Adams might be less of a factor on special teams against Utah on Saturday. The Utes have allowed the fewest kickoff return yards in the Pac-12 and lead the conference in net punting.

Utah also has its own return specialist dynamo in Kaelin Clay, who has scored on three punt returns and one kickoff return, and is well aware of what a player like Adams can do to change a game.

If Utah decides to keep the ball away from Adams on special teams, the Bruins are confident he can find other ways to contribute.

“He’s just a playmaker,” Payton said.

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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