Submitted photos – Anthony Slayton was among the state leaders in tackles during each of the last two seasons at Shasta College.

By Ray Hamill — Former H-DNL standout Anthony Slayton is adjusting to some new surroundings and a new team this summer, but he’s relishing another challenge.

The 2019 Big 4 co-Defensive MVP is coming off a couple of big years playing linebacker at Shasta College and is taking his talents to the Division-I FCS level, where he is hoping to earn a roster spot at Lindenwood University in Missouri, close to St. Louis.

It’s a big move for the 2020 Del Norte graduate, who is moving out of state for the first time, but early signs are positive after he arrived in the area for the first time last weekend.

“It’s my first time out here,” he said. “It’s definitely a little different, but different is good. I really like it so far.”

Slayton has wasted little time trying to settle in and has been practicing with his new teammates this week as he adjusts to a whole new challenge.

“I’ve met just about all the guys and they’re all very welcoming,” he said. “It’s been a very smooth process, and I’m excited for what the future holds.”

Slayton was one of the top community college middle linebackers in the state during his time at Shasta and received plenty of interest from four-year programs.

And after weighing his options this past spring, he chose Lindenwood where he will try to earn a roster spot as a preferred walk-on.

“I decided to jump on it and see where it takes me,” he said. “My main goal is to work toward a scholarship for next year.”

He’s backing himself to rise to the challenge.

“I’ve been here before, kind of betting on myself, and it’s worked out,” he said. “It’s a situation I’ve been in before, and I feel comfortable being the guy who has to work that little bit harder.”

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

After leading Del North to a first-ever state bowl game as a senior, Slayton would go to have a huge impact at Shasta College, where he was named the team’s defensive MVP in his first full season and finished with a state-high 61 solo tackles and 14 tackles for a loss.

After suffering a torn ACL in the final game of the 2021 season, he would return in time for the 2022 campaign, where he had another big year for the Knights and led the state with 16 tackles for a loss and earned a second straight team defensive MVP award.

He received a lot of interest from four-year programs and ended up on Lindenwood’s radar after the Lions hired a new linebackers coach, Will Finley, who had tried to recruit Slayton during his time at Waldorf University in Iowa.

After switching schools, Finley maintained his interest in Slayton.

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“Throughout the recruiting process, I was just talking to coaches from everywhere,” Slayton said. “And one of the coaches I was talking to (Finley) moved to Lindenwood and he recruited me from there.”

Slayton, who wants to major in Physical Education, knows it will be a challenge just trying to make the team, but it’s also a challenge he’s looking forward to.

“It’s definitely a big jump,” he said, adding that his time at Shasta helped prepare him for the move and taught him how much work it takes to succeed at the collegiate level.

“I would say it just kind of set the stage for the amount of work that goes into (college) football.”

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