Scouting Profile: Anthony Belton - OT - North Carolina State
Sales Pitch: Mauling left tackle with impressive size and power. Struggles with balance and hand placement create a very inconsistent playstyle.
*Gold Numbers Indicate NCAA T-25 for 2024*
Scouting Report
Anthony Belton is a former unrecruited tackle prospect from the state of Florida. He spent his first two seasons at Georgia Military College, where he started 11 games, before transferring to N.C. State in 2021. Belton won the starting LT job in 2022, and started 32 games over 3 years, adding on All-ACC honors in 2023.
Belton is a massive left tackle with long powerful limbs. He is a downhill mauler with the finishing mentality offensive line coaches love. Belton is at his best as a gap blocker. His raw natural power is easily able to displace defenders at the point of attack and open up rush lanes. He has heavy hands with iron grip strength to attach to defenders’ chest plates and control reps. In pass protection, Belton’s wide frame and long arm force speed rushers to take wide paths to get to the passer. He is able to use powerful strikes to stun and ride rushers up the field and past the pocket. Belton’s broad chest and powerful lower half are difficult to run through when his feet are set. He easily absorbs contact and drops his anchor versus bull rushers when prepared.
Belton is a heavy lineman with below average movement skills and balance. He does not project well to zone schemes due to limited blocking range and burst. He struggles to control his movements when tracking smaller players in space and is easily ripped off balance. Belton’s issues with footwork and control also impact his ability to stay engaged and sustain drive blocks. He has erratic hand placement, often attaching too wide, allowing his targets to slip away from his grasp. When he engages defenders and doesn’t have control his feet lag behind, forcing him to overextend and end up on the turf. Belton’s lack of foot speed hinders him as a pass protector as well, where he allows too many easy wins. He is slow to get out of his stance and lacks the fluidity to redirect and quickly close down counters as well. Belton compensates for his lack of movement skills by crossing over his feet to make up ground which creates an poor base, exposing him to quick speed to power moves. He is slow to get his hands up to protect his chest when on the move and yields first contact despite his length. He also lacks cohesion between his feet and hands in pass pro which leads to big whiffs.
Belton profiles as a swing tackle with starting upside in a gap scheme. He has the ideal physical make up and power for a starting tackle, but must improve his hand work give his lack of athleticism. Belton projects as a late Day-2/early Day-3 pick as a project tackle with upside.