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Watson to start for Raiders against Chargers

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL WAGAMAN
Associated Press

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Even as he tries to adjust to his role as the Oakland Raiders interim coach, Tony Sparano hasn’t strayed far from his duties working with the team’s offensive line.

It’s a good thing, too.

With veteran lineman Khalif Barnes sitting out Sunday’s home game against San Diego with a quad strain, 2013 second-round pick Menelik Watson will make his fifth career start.

“He’s told us he’s going to need us to step it up and be more responsible,” Watson said Friday. “With the vets we have, it’s not a problem. We do understand that he has a bigger role, but any chance we can get his views on how to things, it’s good. We’re all excited about the new change and what he’s doing and the direction he’s taking us.”

It’s not the ideal situation Sparano was hoping for with his team coming off the bye. Quarterback Derek Carr is nursing knee and foot injuries and will be facing a San Diego defense that is third overall and first in fewest points allowed.

Because the Chargers occasionally use Dwight Freeney on the left side of the defense, it’s almost certain that Watson will face the seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker at some point.

“They’re probably looking over preseason tapes and stuff like that, to get a feel for me,” Watson said. “Well, I’m doing the same thing on him. It’ll be exciting to get out there and compete against a guy like that.”

The 42nd overall pick in 2013, Watson made one nominal start as an extra offensive lineman earlier this season but has spent most of his time on special teams.

The 6-foot-5-inch native of England, who played one year in junior college and another season at Florida State, was originally drafted to be the Raiders’ left tackle. He started three games as a rookie then was moved to the right side this past offseason.

Watson held onto the starting job through nearly the entire preseason before rookie Gabe Jackson beat out Barnes for the left guard spot. Barnes was shifted back to right tackle, pushing Watson back down the depth chart.

That meant Watson had to get his work on the scout team while going against Oakland defensive ends Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley, along with first-round pick linebacker Khalil Mack.

In Freeney, Watson faces a player who was once among the top pass rushers in the NFL. The 34-year-old is coming off an injury-shortened 2013 season and is showing signs of his former self, although Freeney has been limited in practice this week with a sore knee.

Even slowed, Freeney will provide a stern test for Watson.

“Obviously, this is an important step for Menelik right now,” Sparano said. “He played a lot of snaps last week and did some good things and some things that need to be corrected. But it’s out there, it’s on tape, our opponent sees it and he knows he’s gotta fix it.”

“Based on what happened last year, you really have to treat him like a rookie in your approach to things. You’re starting all over again with him and he’s really done a good job that way and I think he’s getting better and better each week. He’ll have his hands full this week, it’s a big challenge.”

Notes: CB Keith McGill (groin) did not practice and is out. CB Tarrell Brown (thumb) is probable. LB Sio Moore (ankle), FB Marcel Reece (quad) and WR Vincent Brown (hamstring) were limited and are all questionable.

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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