Skip to main content
nc-state logo

Anthony Belton embraces new energy level with NC State offensive line

On3 imageby:Ethan McDowell•08/09/23•

ethanmmcdowell

Belton_A_LB5D8895_LAB
NC State left tackle Anthony Belton. (Larry Blankenship/On3)

Anthony Belton heads into his second season in a starting role this fall, and the towering left tackle will take quite a few lessons from last year with him. There’s a lot of energy in the offensive line room right now, and he is at the forefront of it. 

The lineman arrived at Tuesday’s media availability after partially losing his voice during practice. NC State’s offensive line is a growing group of leaders, and Belton attributes that to Wolfpack assistant Garett Tujague. 

“Having a coach that is vocal like him is bringing more of a will and a want to, and it gets us ready to practice,” Belton said. “It’s hard to go out there every day in the hot sun, to want to do it. Just having a coach that matches your level of energy, it just gets you in a good mood.”

NC State quarterback Brennan Armstrong throws with his left hand, so Belton is making a few technical adjustments now that he no longer protects the signal-caller’s blindside. After starting for the majority of last year and playing in a rotation for the final stretch, he made some changes to how he approaches the game off of the field. 

Belton said that, at times last year, he was not preparing for games in the way he needed to. The lineman addressed that this offseason. 

“I learned I just need to fix my off the field habits when it comes to eating right, studying film better, just the little things like that because it showed a lot of times,” Belton said. “I feel like I had kind of a downfall because I kind of relaxed.”

Just over one week into fall camp, he is working hard and embracing his reps against an experienced Wolfpack defensive line. Belton said that competition is starting to ramp up now that the pads are on, and he enjoys the challenge of going up against Davin Vann, C.J. Clark, Savion Jackson and Travali Price. 

“It’s good going against them to get you prepared for those Saturday’s because you’re not going to see a lot of lineman that are like Savion and are 290, moving that well and are that strong,” Belton said. 

NC State kicks off this season on the road against UConn. The left tackle’s first career start was during last year’s season opener against ECU, and he has played in hostile environments such as Clemson and UNC already. 

He said there is not a huge change in communication when playing in front of a loud crowd because head coach Dave Doeren prepares them for the task. 

“We do a great job of prepping for away games because we’ve always got sound amped in [during] practices, we’ve got speakers right behind us,” Belton said. “I feel like coach Doeren does a great job of  just making sure we are doing good with the crowd noise.”

With Belton anchoring the left side of the line at 6-6, 336 pounds, NC State kicks off its season opener against Connecticut at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31. 

You may also like