Anthony Averett

A two-year starter at Alabama, Averett lined up primarily as the right cornerback in Saban’s pattern match scheme and was a steady cover man despite never winning All-SEC honors. A former quarterback and track star in high school, he and the best long jump in the nation in 2013 (25-feet, two inches), which was the second-longest in state history behind former Olympian Carl Lewis. Averett tends to play small and his lack of ideal length shows at the catch point, but he is tough-minded, pesky and consistently in the right place to give receivers all they can handle. Although he enjoys playing aggressive, he will be a penalty magnet in the NFL if he doesn’t find better balance with his grabbing tendencies. Averett didn’t have great ball production in college, but his speed and quick reaction skills are NFL-ready. BACKGROUND A three-star athlete recruit out of high school, Averett moved from running back to quarterback as a sophomore at Woodbury despite zero experience as a passer. He started at quarterback and defensive back for three seasons and earned all-state honors as a senior on offense (2,114 total yards, 29 total touchdown) and defense (106 tackles, five interceptions, leading the team to the state title game in 2012. He initially received offers from schools like Syracuse and Rutgers, but once Alabama offered him a scholarship (as a defensive back), that opened the floodgates and offers from Penn State, South Carolina and Wisconsin soon followed. He verballed to the Crimson Tide shortly after Nick Saban offered him and he stayed true to that pledge. After redshirting in 2013, Averett saw very little playing time as a redshirt freshman and sophomore, playing in only seven games over the two years and combining for two tackles. He earned a starting role at cornerback as a junior in 2016 and led the team in pass break-ups (eight), adding 48 tackles and two forced fumbles. Averett returned for his senior season and finished second on the team with nine passes defended, notching his only career interception.

in our view

Although he doesn’t play as big as the measurements and needs to tweak his technical shortcomings, Averett has the read/react athleticism and competitive grit that allows him to play sticky coverage.

strengths

Speedy cover man. Stays attached to the hip of receivers on vertical routes. Quick-minded to sense, track and react. Gets into the frame of wideouts to detour the route. Competitive appetite and looks to mix it up and frustrate receivers. Always ball searching to strip/rip at the catch point. Didn’t play outside cornerback in high school and has come a long with his route recognition. Fills downhill with the physical mindset required for run support. Steady open-field tackler, settling down, striking low and finishing with strong hands. Edge speed as a blitzer to affect the pocket action. Mentally and physically tough and won’t back down from a challenge. Earned the trust of Nick Saban with his determined attitude and execution. Graduated with a degree in exercise science (Dec. 2016). NFL bloodlines – uncle (Bryant McKinnie) was an All-American offensive tackle at Miami (Fla.) and first round pick in 2002 (seventh overall to the Minnesota Vikings). – Dane Brugler 1/17/2018

compares to

Mackensie Alexander, Baltimore Ravens – Alexander had intriguing game film at Clemson, but didn’t record an interception and that was one reason he fell out of the top-50 picks. Leading up to the NFL Draft, the situation might be similar for Averett, who has quality college tape, but underwhelming ball production.

weaknesses

Lack of ideal height/length shows on tape. Marginal ball skills with more drops than interceptions over his career. Grabs and hugs, getting caught with a fistful of jersey. Used sidesaddle technique at Alabama and was often late to adjust to in/out breaking routes. Driven off the top of routes, struggling to cover comebacks. Late getting his head turned to find the football. Slim muscled frame and can be pushed around by physical receivers. Hung up on blocks, struggling to shed. Smallish tackling radius and missed tackles in space lead to chunk plays. – Dane Brugler 1/17/2018

Joined the Crimson Tide out of Woodbury High School in New Jersey

a talented athlete who also boasted a distinguished career in track and field

ranked 115th by 247Sports.com and the site's No.14 safety and No. 5 player in New Jersey

ranked 273rd in the 247Composite

No. 22 athlete by ESPN and No. 211 in the ESPN 300 Scout.com ranked him as the No. 23 cornerback nationally while Rivals.com listed him as the No. 23 corner

a PrepStar All-East Region choice

ranked 193rd nationally by PrepStar

No. 10 athlete in Tom Lemming's MaxPreps

second team small school All-American as a defensive back by MaxPreps

played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Game

clocked at 10.6 in the 100-meters, 6.46 in the 55 meters and high jumped 6-feet, 4-inches

possibly the top prep long jumper in the nation with a jump of 25-feet, two-inches, which was the longest jump in the nation for 2013 and the second-longest in state history

finished second in the 2012 Penn Relays long jump

posted 106 tackles, 12 pass breakups and five interceptions as a senior in 2012, earning him first team All-State honors Totaled 52 stops and three picks as a junior in 2011 and 40 tackles and three interceptions in 2010

also ran for 1,278 yards (15 touchdowns) and passed for 836 (14 scores) as a senior

coached by Zac Valentine

nephew of former Miami (Fla.) All-American and Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie

chose Alabama over Penn State, Iowa, South Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee.

2017

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
4.0	0.0	48.0	0.0	8.0	1.0	31.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
0.0	30.0	30.0	1.0

2016

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
3.0	0.0	48.0	0.0	8.0	1.0	39.0