Dantonio \u201cThunder\u201d Burnette \u201903, \u201907 MED, an all-ACC linebacker for NC State in 2002, is an assistant athletics director and the director of strength and conditioning for Wolfpack football\u2009\u2014\u2009the only NC State alumnus on the coaching staff. Burnette, 38, still looks like he could do some damage on the field, but he\u2019s more concerned these days with proper technique and a balanced approach to conditioning than he is with brute strength. \u201cOur number-one goal is to be healthy,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Burnette and his assistant strength coaches all have graduate degrees. \u201cSometimes strength coaches can get labeled as just being meatheads,\u201d he says. \u201cThat\u2019s the last thing we want. We want to be looked at as educators.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That means explaining to the players the reasons behind the various strength exercises, not to mention the importance of yoga, massage therapy and recovery to proper conditioning. Oh, and sleep. \u201cI have to tell them, \u2018You have to get off the phone, get off social media, get off Fortnite,\u2019\u201d Burnette says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The players come in groups for 90-minute sessions each morning during the off-season. With the sounds of rappers and hip hop artists like Lil Baby, 21 Savage and J. Cole along with the constant clank of heavy metal, the players waste no time as they move from station to station. \u201cIt\u2019s gonna take stress off your shoulders,\u201d Burnette tells a player pressing two 110-pound dumbbells. \u201cOne more thing\u2009\u2014\u2009bring it right down to your stomach. There you go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Burnette is a numbers guy, able to rattle off the top of his head how much various players can lift or how much weight they have put on. He keeps photos on his phone that show the progression of his players\u2019 bodies through the years, something he shares with NFL scouts as part of the player\u2019s \u201cr\u00e9sum\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n