RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — It’s a moment Anthony Belton will never forget.
“You know it’s something you dream about your whole life as a kid,” said Belton.
The former NC State star heard his name called early in the recent NFL Draft. Belton was a second-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, the 54th overall pick.
“I know going into it I was real nervous, but all the excitement hit because all the work paid off and just the journey I took because I went the JUCO process,” said Belton, referring to junior college. “You know it was my last chance and just thinking about all I went through and the sacrifice and the family support is all paying off.”
It has been quite a journey for the former N.C. State standout who was an unranked prospect coming out of high school and had to go the junior college route to jump-start his career.
“Getting through that JUCO journey, that’s when I knew I could go into a tough situation and come out of it, face adversity and come through it,” said Belton. “I was in a situation where I was by myself away from family, really had to put my head down and go to work and that kind of made me what I am today.”
What he is today is a professional football player heading to the NFL’s most iconic franchise, the Green Bay Packers. Belton is once again in his comfort zone, an NFL rookie looking to make a name for himself just like he did at Georgia Military College and NC State.
“Just learn as much as possible, I’m going to a place that’s a good group of vets and I want to learn from them,” said Belton. “I’ll keep my head down and be a sponge kind of finding out my role in that aspect.”
Belton was a three-year starter at N.C. State, taking over the left tackle spot from Ikem Ekwonu who was a first round pick of the Carolina Panthers. Belton had opportunities to take advantage of NIL, a handful of schools trying to lure him away from Raleigh, but a brotherhood kept him home.
“I knew my journey was here and I wanted to do my own journey and not what everybody else was doing,” said Belton. “I owe so much to the guys I worked with to my left my right and there’s a loyalty and a brotherhood at N.C. State and I’m grateful for that too.”
And that’s the type of person the Green Bay Packers are about to get.