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NC State Newsstand: Wolfpack TE Justin Joly named Phil Steele Preseason All-American

image_6483441 (3)by: Noah Fleischman06/11/25fleischman_noah
Justin Joly
Nov 2, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack tight end Justin Joly (15) catches the ball in the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter against Stanford Cardinals at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

There were high expectations for UConn transfer Justin Joly when he arrived at NC State through the portal ahead of last season. The former underrecruited tight end out of high school had a chip on his shoulder with something to prove. 

And he did just that.

Joly caught 43 passes for 661 yards and four touchdowns in his debut season with the Wolfpack. The versatile tight end led NC State in receiving yards, while he was second on the team in receptions during the 2024 campaign.

Now, he enters the 2025 season with even higher expectations of what he can do. Joly was named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-America squad as a fourth team selection going into his senior campaign. Steele also placed the Pack’s star tight end as a first team Preseason All-ACC selection, the lone NC State offensive player to make the list.

Joly, who was also named to On3’s top 100 players in college football list earlier this offseason, averaged 15.4 yards per catch a year ago, which was the fourth-best mark among FBS tight ends. Additionally, Joly paced all Division I tight ends with an 84.6 percent contested-catch rate (11-of-13) during the 2024 campaign, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Brewster, N.Y., native’s 661 yards were the fourth-most single-season tight end receiving yards in NC State program history, while his 43 receptions were the fifth-most for those at his position in a Wolfpack uniform. 

Joly is set to be an integral part of NC State’s new-look offense under coordinator Kurt Roper, who was promoted just after the team’s bowl loss to East Carolina. The Wolfpack is set to use a high-tempo, pro-style approach as it looks to build off last fall with sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey at the helm of the unit.

Tweets of the day

Wolfpack basketball continues to build hype this summer.

Will Wade and his staff extended an offer to 2027 Raleigh (N.C.) Broughton four-star guard Jordan Page, the No. 11 player in the cycle. 

In case you didn’t get to Doak Field this spring, here’s what the Pack9 entrance video looked like. 

Quote of the day

NC State wanted to impress Vero Beach (Fla.) four-star ATH Efrem White, a Florida State commit, on his official visit. It seems like the Wolfpack did just that.

“They were talking so much about the brotherhood and how they bond, and how you can come out of school as a new man,” White said. “Going around and seeing the coaches vibe with all the players that’s already there, they weren’t lying about all the brotherhood. They really made it feel like home.”

Today’s top headlines

Packed recruiting intel: NC State trends with several official visitors, update on a flip target and more

Two-way player? NC State continues to push to flip FSU ATH commit Efrem White

‘1Pack1Goal really goes a long way’: 3-star WR Xavier Stinson enjoys NC State official visit

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