I Was Shocked to Learn Why Belmont Cameli’s Main Goal When Working Out for Off Campus Is to “Put on Mass”

Belmont Cameli said his physical training for the Prime Video series Off Campus was about more than just looking like a college hockey player. In addition to learning how to skate and prepare for the show’s on-ice scenes, he focused on putting on mass rather than cutting down to an extremely low body fat percentage. Cameli explained that the goal was not to achieve a lean, shredded look, but to build a stronger frame suited to the demands of playing hockey.

Cameli stars as Garrett Graham in the book-to-screen adaptation, alongside Antonio Cipriano, Jalen Thomas Brooks and Stephen Kalyn, who play Garrett’s housemates and fellow hockey players Logan, Tucker and Dean. Of the group, Kalyn was the only actor with prior hockey experience, so the others had to train from scratch before filming. Their preparation included learning the sport, improving their skating, and getting into hockey-player shape so they could convincingly perform the game scenes.

For Cameli, building muscle was also about safety. He noted that hockey players are hit constantly, and that being heavier can help absorb contact better. Since he often skates fast into the boards and has trouble stopping at times, he said having more mass on his body gives him extra protection. That physical preparation matters even though the show is fictional, because the cast still has to skate, crash into one another, and repeat these actions over multiple takes.

The actor’s comments highlight the physical toll of portraying hockey players on screen. While the cast is not competing in real games, the production still requires them to perform athletic movements, simulate contact, and handle the wear and tear that comes with filming. Gaining mass and staying in strong condition helps reduce the risk of injury during that process.

The training also supports the visual demands of the series. A stronger, bulkier physique helps the actors look convincing in workout sequences, intimate scenes, and shirtless moments, all of which are part of the show’s appeal as a sexually explicit Prime Video drama. But Cameli’s remarks make clear that appearance was only one part of the equation. Functionality and protection were just as important.

In short, the cast’s preparation for Off Campus involved learning hockey, building athleticism, and gaining enough muscle to handle the physicality of the role. For Cameli, “putting on mass” was not only about looking the part, but also about staying safer while filming a sport that regularly involves collisions with other players and the boards. Viewers can see the results of that work by streaming Off Campus on Amazon Prime.