How Alvarado’s Demarcus Belton became a top playmaker in Texas football

Not so long ago, Demarcus Belton was stopping guys like him from running the football with any success.

Well, probably not guys like him, because there simply aren’t very many like him out there.

The senior running back/wide receiver for Alvarado has emerged as one of the best at his position(s) in the state. This season alone, he has rushed for 1,137 yards and caught passes for 1,207 yards as the Indians (10-0), ranked No. 6 in the state in Class 4A Division I, enter the area round.

Belton, who has 41 total touchdowns on the season, will look to lead Alvarado against Sulphur Springs (10-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Children’s Health Stadium in Prosper. Alvarado romped past Fort Worth Carter-Riverside 77-0 in the bi-district round.

Overall for his career, Belton has rushed for 3,585 yards and 41 touchdowns, along with catching 140 passes for 2,500 yards and 33 scores. He’s averaging 10 yards per carry and 18 yards per catch.

“Honestly, it’s a crazy feeling,” Belton said. “If you’d told me I’d get to this level running and catching the ball, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

The previous couple of years, he was on the other side of the ball — and also playing well. Belton, listed now at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, moved to nose tackle after playing safety in the eighth grade.

“A friend got hurt, and I said, ‘Coach, I’ll go.’ I got two sacks right away, and coach said, ‘That’s your place now,’” Belton said. “I did like playing on the line. I also had a pick-six and a blocked punt. But I think I made the right choice.”

Accepting a skill position

When former assistant coach Jim Woolard (now at Joshua) got the idea to try Belton at running back, he clearly was onto something. Belton had played the position in peewee ball, which he now admits he was reluctant to try.

“It was around second grade. My mom asked me if I wanted to play, and at first I said no,” he said with a laugh. “But I signed up anyway. It was so hot.”

Suffice to say, he adjusted, which has become a trademark of his. After switching back to running back as a sophomore, he also gave wide receiver a try — again stepping up when his cousin, Lance Sansom (now at West Point), got injured.

Sansom was a multiposition standout, also playing defensive back, something that Belton said helped him perfect his own receiving skills after his cousin returned from the injury.

“I’d go up against him regularly, and I had no choice but to get better. He pushed me a lot,” Belton said. “Also, playing 7-on-7 helped because I played more slot.”

Belton loves getting his hands on the ball, whatever the situation.

“If I were to break it down, I feel I’m more of a running back than receiver — but there’s not that much of a difference, and I love playing both,” he said.

Alvarado head coach Casey Walraven said “it’s been a joy” to have Belton in the program.

“He’s got a great personality and great young man. His talent and his production speak for itself,” Walraven said. “Being from Alvarado, I knew his family and how talented they have been as athletes in Alvarado. I believe we saw right away the potential he had as a running back in our offense.”

An athletic family

Belton is the latest in a long line of athletes in his family. His father excelled in basketball, his grandfather and several uncles also played football, and his sister, Trinity Houston, was a basketball and track athlete for Alvarado before graduating in 2021.

“I don’t think there’s anybody in my family who didn’t play sports,” Belton said. “If there was a sport happening, there’s a good chance we had someone in the family playing.”

Belton has himself played a variety of sports. Along with football, he qualified for regional competition in track as part of the 4x100-meter relay team last season, and he has also played soccer and basketball.

His football accolades include being named District 6-4A Division I Offensive MVP and second-team all-state last season and being nominated for the Whataburger Super Team.

Credit to the teammates

While Belton acknowledges his own talent, he is quick to praise his teammates, particularly his offensive line.

“I have the best O-line in the state,” he said, adding with a chuckle, “I’ve gotta take them out to eat — if I can get some more money.”

He also has great things to say about the Alvarado defense, which held its final five regular-season opponents without a touchdown (including four shutouts) and limited one foe to minus-16 yards rushing and minus-1 yard overall.

“I love them boys on defense,” Belton said. “Being able to rely on your defense is so crucial.”

A premier player

“As he’s worked, grown and developed, he has really built himself into one of the state’s premier players,” Walraven said, noting that he’s only coached one other player able to do what Belton does with so much success in two positions.

That’s Alvarado offensive coordinator Daniel Spencer, who was a standout in college at Houston after graduating from Grandview.

“It’s a really rare feat for a football player to achieve that kind of production,” Walraven said. “Demarcus, Coach Spencer and myself set this as a personal goal before the season for Demarcus to achieve because of the rarity of it, and because Coach Spencer accomplished it himself.”

Future plans

Belton wants to play in college, though he hasn’t committed anywhere. He has been in conversations with several schools.

“I believe Demarcus has his best football ahead of him in college,” Walraven said. “He still has some developing to do since moving to running back in high school, but his natural, strong speed and pass-catching ability make him extremely versatile in the college game.”

Belton plans to study kinesiology.

This story was originally published November 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM.