Anthony Carter: "It Starts Up Front"

NC State graduate offensive guard Anthony Carter met with the media to discuss his development, other offensive linemen, the upcoming season, and much more.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

Anthony, just your first day back out there. Your last start of your fall camp though, right? 
Yes, sir. Just excited. Just enjoying the moment, being where your feet are. Not thinking about what's after. Just making sure I'm on top of everything, doing the right thing. Enjoying the process. Taking it one day at a time.

Not only just making sure I'm being consistent, but just bringing young guys as well along with me. Making sure, helping them out where they need help at. Coaching points, stuff like that.

Just excited to get out there with the guys again and just get to that time to play with them.

What's it like being the older guy in the group? Kind of being one of the guys that's been on the line for the longest?
I get a lot of “unc” jokes when I'm old, but, it comes with leadership. Just like understanding guys when they come and ask me, like, what can they do to change, techniques, stuff like that. Or, like, just routine stuff as well. Just understanding my role and, like, passing that down as well. Not just leaving them out to dry. Like, helping them along the process so it's easier for them. We all just get better together. 

What's it like when you see a 19-year-old to the right? 
It's amazing just because it went by that fast. Or, like, I remember, like, it was the other day. Like, I just got here during COVID, so it's just different. But, it's exciting when you see them young guys come in, ready to work. And, like, you know what I mean? Just ready, always, wanting to be a sponge. So, it's exciting seeing them get better experience and stuff like that. 

Any difference in your approach, say, April, May, just because you know it's the last time around? 
I wouldn't say a difference in approach. I'd just say just, you got to continue to have that urgency. Just continue to be disciplined. Going to, just trying new techniques out and stuff like that. Training, going outside to train. Just pick, like, get your brain picked by other people and see what you like and what you don't. Other than that, the mission and the goal is always the goal. If you want to win the ACC championship and it starts one day at a time, building on that.  So, what can I do to help that and what can I do to help my room be successful out there? 

You guys have another new center playing next year. What have you seen from the two guys this spring and kind of over the summer going into camp now? 
Both guys work real hard, Spike and JG. They're really good. They're people, they're very humble, both coming to work. Spike’s ready, being a sponge, just ready to learn. JG, helping lead, stuff like that. Just, always, always being open to coaching, stuff like that.

But those guys are great. Like, it's good. Just like, it's like one of those, like, I'm just happy because I can always chop it up with them as well. 

You guys went through a new center last year, too, what were you able to learn to help Zeke come along and to kind of help these guys move forward? 
It's interesting to say that because even I had multiple offensive line coaches in high school, but as well as in college. So, it's like, I treat it as that, but more of just, but in the player perspective, just okay, okay. He might be new coming into the system. Just understanding, like, okay, this is, like, just let him know, okay, this is how I'm going to get in at this block, stuff like that. My angle of departure, stuff like that. So, okay, maybe I could give you a little, I'll give you a little bit more here. Just that talking back and forth in between plays as well. It's like, always like, okay, what's your thought process here? Stuff like that. Just so we have, on the same page. 

You feel the pressure, but you got so many good offensive players on this team. If you guys perform well up front, I mean, the sky's the limit for this team. 
It starts up front. We go as far as the o-line takes the team. So, we got to play nasty. We got to be disciplined, communicate, and we're fine with that pressure, I mean, we don't get no credit. We're not worried about the credit, . We all just worry about making sure we protect the ball carriers, protect the quarterback. Just make sure we handle our business up front and just be on the same page, really. So, we're not worried about the pressure as far as pressure. 

What’s it been like to get to know Teague Andersen, and what have you learned about the state of Utah? 
So, I think it's like the scenery, really. Just talk about the scenery. Just seeing, like, the lakes and all that. Just seeing that aspect of it. Just seeing how beautiful that is. And as well, just like I said, all the guys that came in, they're very down to earth. Very humble, works hard, very athletic. Excited to see what he can do. 

Anthony, what can you tell us about C.J. and his progression? Where he was last year as compared to where he is this year. Commanding the huddle or just getting you guys from getting down to huddle the right way? 
I think that just gives me more confidence. You got games under his belt as well. Just like preparation, everything's faster. All right, being able to fix things faster. When something's wrong, something like that. Just being able to fix it yourself. Being able to just, bounce, just communicating faster, stuff like that. Preparation, just make sure he's handling everything. Communicating if he needs something from us on the line or just the receivers. Just communicating that as well.