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NC State

Sixth-year senior guard Anthony Carter rewarded by being named captain

Jacey Zembalby: Jacey Zembal08/27/25JaceyZembal
Anthony Carter Jr.
NC State sixth-year senior left guard has played in 34 college games. (USA Today Sports photos)

There was a time where Anthony Carter probably was OK allowing others to be vocal leaders.

Carter kept a very low-profile in recruiting when he was a promising Rivals three-star guard prospect in the class of 2020. That’s part of how NC State was able to sign him coming out of Matthews (N.C.) Butler — they waited patiently and didn’t pressure him.

Carter finally committed Jan. 8, 2020, and picked NC State over offers from North Carolina, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Maryland, Michigan State, Louisville, Virginia, Duke, Syracuse, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Illinois and Central Florida, among others.

Carter spent the 2020 COVID season rehabbing an ACL injury from his senior year, and then he redshirted in 2021. He earned his first career start in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Maryland in 2022, and then cemented his role the next two years.

Carter has started 26 games and played in 34, allowing 5.5 sacks and recording 68 pancakes in 1,773 plays. Carter had a 69.0 grade by Pro Football Focus last year, including 67.9 on run blocks and 73.2 on pass blocking.

The 6-foot-3, 318-pounder was rewarded by his teammates by getting named a co-captain, which along with being a five-time ACC honor roll honoree and three-time league all-academic team member will be part of his lasting legacy.

“It’s a blessing to see that my teammates voted me and trusted me to do the right things,” Carter said. “Lead them, just to be consistent in being the same person, lead them through the tough times, hard times. The good times as well. To keep them together, help them, hold them accountable, so it’s an honor.”

The captaincy showed that his teammates look to him for his vocal leadership and past experiences.

“Just being myself every day, just going in there, helping guys, whether it’s on the side, and stuff like that,” Carter said. “Just making sure I’m being consistent in who I am when I go out there.”

Carter has helped some of the newcomers come in adjust to NC State like senior center transfer Jalen Grant of Purdue, freshman center Isaac Sowells and right tackle transfer Teague Andersen of Utah State.

Carter has also served as mentor for redshirt sophomore right guard Kamen Smith, who will be making his first start Thursday against East Carolina. Carter understands the journey in becoming a starter for the first time.

“It’s been amazing just because I’ve seen his journey from being younger,” Carter said. “It’s been amazing just to see him put his process together, his plan together, and see him grow into the player he is. It’s always been there. It takes time to build.”

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