Outstanding balance: Averett will bring many skills to Alabama

The first thing you notice about Anthony Averett is, well, he doesn't stand out.

On a cold Saturday afternoon, Woodbury hosted Colonial Conference rival Haddon Township. As both teams warmed up, Averett quietly descended the cement stairs to the field from the home locker room and eased his way into the stretching routine.

"He's always been a mature kid," said Averett's mother, Carmen Davis, decked out in a gray hoodie covered up by one of her sons' blue-and-gold lettermen jackets. "I don't worry about him because I know he can handle anything. He's ready for the next step."

That next step is a world away, far from the small-town feel that surrounds the Woodbury campus, far from the quaint surroundings where he's plied his trade, far from New Jersey. Averett's next step is the University of Alabama, where he will join the Crimson Tide next season to play defensive back.

It's third-and-10 in Woodbury territory. Averett stands behind center, takes the snap and takes off through a hole on the right side. As he gets to the sideline, he shifts his weight and gains an extra 7 yards.

The move is subtle, it's quiet. Averett doesn't waste motion and, when he wants to, has several more gears just waiting to explode.

"I should have known," a sideline judge says. "It's what separates him from all the others. It's his balance. I thought he was going to go out. But he has more yards in him. I have to remember to never stop."

Woodbury coach Zack Valentine knew his senior quarterback was headed his way when the youngster was in eighth grade. Averett's mother teaches at Woodbury and coaches track there as well. Valentine knew there was a chance he could one day build a team around the now 6-foot, 175 pound quarterback/defensive back.

"He's definitely one of the best athletes we've had since I've been here but the thing is, he's always had the ability to rise up to a challenge," Valentine said. "He's always been able to live up to high expectations. He was a great player in eighth grade, no doubt about it, but he's improved and that says even more."

Averett has led the Thundering Herd in all three phases of the game this year. The results, which include close to 1,000 yards rushing, are clear: a 7-1 record and a home game in the Group 1 South Jersey football playoffs. Sure, his natural talents are easy to see, especially when you consider he won the Meet of Champion long-jump title the last two seasons and has the second-longest jump in state history - 25-feet 2 1/2 inches set in last year's Woodbury Relays, behind only former Olympian Carl Lewis, who jumped 26-6 with Willingboro in 1979, long before Averett was even born.

But Valentine sees something more in Averett. He sees something not easily defined with statistics or flashes of brilliance on the field.

"It's balance," Valentine said. "Not the physical balance he shows out there but the balance he has in his life. He won't have any problem in adjusting to college because he's just a phenomenal person and that's a credit to the way he's been raised and the person he is."

The plan is simple enough.

Haddon Township, much like every opponent Woodbury has faced the past four seasons, has no intention of going at Averett or even allowing him to touch the ball. Of the seven punts the senior has dropped back for, only one has even come close to him.

For a brief moment, a punt gets caught in the wind and drifts in his direction. It hits the turf 10 yards in front of him and a gasp comes from the home stands. But the ball takes an odd bounce back to the hard- charging Hawks, who quickly jump on it to end the play.

For one moment, Averett shows emotion. Just a quick twist of his body and a look skyward at what may have happened and then, back to reality.

"I understand it," he says with a smile. "I wouldn't kick it to me either."

Averett has done his best this year to remain a high-school student. He is in no rush to move on, although it's hard not to think about next year, especially on this particular Saturday afternoon.

It's homecoming at Woodbury and Averett is one of the King's Court, although he misses the naming of the Homecoming Queen at halftime because he's back in the locker room preparing for the second half. He does intend to attend the night's dance, but he'll do so solo and there have been some arrangements made so he can check out a game on television.

"Yeah, I'm going," Averett said. "But my mom promised to text me what's going on."

What's going on, of course, is the Alabama game at Louisiana State. The Crimson Tide traveled to Death Valley as the country's No. 1 team, facing the the No. 5 Tigers in one of the toughest places to play. Night games at LSU are legendary and it's something he can't wait to experience, especially come-from-behind 21-17 wins like the one the Tide pulled off last weekend.

"I've waited my whole life to play in an atmosphere like that," Averett said. "But this is my last homecoming so I have to be here."

Haddon Township's offense shows an ability to make small plays but not the big one needed to find the end zone. It's midway through the first quarter and the Hawks go for a pass over the middle that gets deflected by a receiver.

Averett, in the right place at the right time, grabs the ball in midair and it's off to the races.

"Oh, no," a receiver says before beginning pursuit.

That's the problem. One second to think, one second to notice Averett has the ball and one second later both teams are dashing down the line after the gold jersey emblazoned with the white No. 4. Averett doesn't score, but his presence has been felt and the the Hawks breathe a sigh of relief combined with a sigh of frustration.

Through all his great moments, there's one that Averett says he'll never forget.

"It was after a game and I saw a guy in a red top with that white 'A' on it," he said. "You see it and you know who it is then you think, 'Who are they here for?' Then when you think, that's Alabama and they're here for me, well, that's something special."

"That's Alabama," said Haddonfield coach Frank Delano, whose team has had to scheme for Averett twice in the past two seasons. "They don't have to come to New Jersey for players. They have enough across the South. So what does it say that [Alabama coach] Nick Saban came here for him? Think about that. They're only coming to South Jersey for a special athlete."

Special indeed, and Anthony and his family know that firsthand.

"We got invited to their spring game and they have only so many that by rule can come to that game," Averett's mother said. "For Anthony to be one of those, well, it's just a special thing for our entire family."