Dane Belton

Originally a 4th-round (114th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2022.

TRANSACTIONS:

• Originally a 4th-round (114th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2022.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• In 3 seasons at Iowa, Belton played in 30 games with 26 starts…Tallied 112 tackles (68 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, 17 passes defensed and 5 interceptions (all in 2021).
• In 2021, Belton started all 14 games…Selected first-team All-Big Ten…His 5 interceptions tied for the 2nd-highest total both nationally and in the Big Ten…Posted career-high totals of 46 tackles, including 29 solo…Academic All-Big Ten…First-team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media and 2nd team by the AP…Collected a season-high 5 tackles vs. both Penn State and Purdue, and 2 interceptions at Northwestern.
• Started at outside linebacker and had 4 tackles, including 1.5 stops for loss, and his first career interception, vs. Indiana (9/4)…Started at strong safety and had 4 tackles (3 solo) at Iowa State (9/11)…Had one interception while playing outside linebacker at Maryland (10/1)…Notched 5 tackles (2 solo) vs. Penn State (10/9) and followed with 5 solo stops vs. Purdue (10/16)…Intercepted 2 passes at Northwestern (11/6) and one vs. Illinois (11/20)…Contributed 3 tackles (2 solo) in the Citrus Bowl vs. Kentucky (1/1).
• In 2020, started all 8 games in a season shortened by the pandemic…Recorded 33 tackles (19 solo), with 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 5 pass breakups and one forced fumble…Had 5 five tackles and broke up one pass vs. Michigan State…Registered 4 tackles in 4 games: 2 solo at Purdue, 3 solo vs. Northwestern and 3 solo, including his first career sack and forced fumble, at Penn State, and 3 solo at Illinois…Matched his career high with 6 tackles (4 solo) vs. Wisconsin.
• In 2019, played in 8 games with 4 starts…Named Academic All-Big Ten…Recorded 33 tackles (20 solo), including 2 stops for loss…Saw his first action of career in 48-3 win vs. Middle Tennessee, recording 2 assisted tackles…Posted career-best 6 tackles (3 solo) vs. Purdue…Made his first career start and had 5 tackles (3 solo) at Northwestern…Started at outside linebacker vs. USC in the Holiday Bowl win and tied his career best with 6 tackles (5 solo), including one for loss, as the defense allowed only 22 rushing yards.

PERSONAL:

• Health and human physiology major… Four-year football letterman as a defensive back, wide receiver, return specialist and punter at Jesuit High School in Tampa…Named 2nd-team all-state as a junior after earning honorable mention recognition as a sophomore…First-team all-county as a junior and 2nd team as a sophomore…Team captain as a junior and senior…Helped the Tigers reach the state playoffs 4 straight years, when they were 43-8, including 12-1 in Belton's final season…As a senior, recorded 67 tackles, 4 interceptions and 7 pass breakups, while scoring 4 touchdowns…In his junior season, collected 56 tackles, with 4 interceptions, 5 tackles for loss, 4 pass breakups and 3 touchdowns…As a sophomore, had 49 tackles, 3 interceptions and 4 pass breakups as a sophomore…Intercepted his first pass as a freshman…Also a 2-year track letterman…Set personal bests of 11.49 in the 100 meters, 23.57 in the 200 meters, 19'7 in the long jump and 37'8.5 in the triple jump…Parents are Deanna and Danny Belton.