Anderson a doer, not a talker

Nick Anderson is so desperate to compete at a Division I college he’s willing to fail at the highest level rather than succeed at a Division II or Division III university.

The South Kitsap High School senior has the talent and confidence on the football field and track that won’t allow him to fail at any level, though no one will ever hear him say it.

“I’m not a talker,” Anderson said. “I just like to go out there and do it. I’m hoping (college) coaches will like that about me. I hope they say ‘this kid is not a talker, he’s a doer.’ ”

Anderson is doing it.

Already the holder of a state-best mark in the long jump (22 feet, 7 inches), Anderson is also among the state’s top five in the triple jump.

His marks in the high jump are also state-worthy, though he will eschew that event to concentrate on the pit jumps.

After going to state in the high jump last year and the triple jump the last two years, Anderson said he always thought he could excel in the long jump.

“Even when I was jumping last year I knew I could always jump it,” he said. “Guys were jumping (20-10,) so I came out this year focused on the long so I could bring that up.”

Because of Anderson’s pure athleticism, he’s found himself to be stretched out too thin because he has competed in too many events.

Though he has state-qualifying marks in the high jump, Anderson said he won’t do the event at state.

“I could go for high jump but I don’t think I want to do three jumping events,” he said.

Besides the long jump and triple jump, Anderson also plays a valuable role as the third leg or anchor on SK’s talented 400-meter relay team.

Anderson’s rare mix of speed and strength could land him at Washington State University.

Anderson — who has an unofficial visit to WSU planned at the end of the spring — said WSU would be the perfect fit for him.

A star outside linebacker at SK, Anderson said he believes in his heart he can compete at the Division I level in football and track.

He’s willing to walk on to prove to everyone he can do it.

“I’d rather fail at something big than always wonder if I could have done it,” Anderson said. “Whether I get a scholarship or not, I think I can hang with them just as well.”

At 6-1, 180 pounds, Anderson said he knows he needs to put on more muscle.

Knowing that, Anderson said he’d welcome a redshirt his freshman year at college in order to bulk up and meet obvious physical expectations.

Anderson said the reality of his size and speed may lead him to be a free safety, even though his heart is at outside linebacker.

SK coach D.J. Sigurdson said Ander-son has the athletic tools to play college football, but probably not as a linebacker.

“Our outside linebacker position basically is a free safety,” Sigurdson said. “But I think Nick has the athletic ability to be a strong safety or a free safety. He’s a very strong kid even though he is slight.”

Safeties aren’t required to tackle as much as linebackers, which is one of the reasons Anderson would love to play linebacker.

“I love hitting people,” Anderson said. “There’s no other sport where you can just run up and smash somebody.

Ideally he’d like to earn a scholarship in track or football and walk on with the other respective sport.

Another option Anderson said he’s tinkered with is becoming a decathlete.

His ability to run, jump, and throw makes him an ideal candidate as a decathlete.

Anderson said WSU would be a perfect fit for that, since world-record holder and former Olympic champion Dan O’Brien is a volunteer coach there.

“Maybe I’ll become a decathlete,” he said. “I’ve talked to (SK assistant) coach (Darren) Bowden and he said I’d be a perfect fit.”

Where Anderson ends up is left to be seen, but it’s hard to imagine an athlete like him not “doing it” somewhere.

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