Justin Joly is Going to Make the Tight End Position Relevant at NC State Again

Junior Tight End Justin Joly had 5 receptions for 75 yards in NC State’s season opening victory over Western Carolina last Thursday night. If Jacarrius Peak hadn’t have been flagged for an ineligible man down field penalty, he would have had another reception for 43 yards and a touchdown.

Last season, Joly had 56 receptions for 578 yards and 2 touchdowns as a Sophomore at UCONN.

For perspective, if Joly were to match the number of 56 receptions again at NC State this year, it would be the 3rd most receptions ever by a Tight End in school history. Swiss Army Knife Jaylen Samuels currently has the three highest single season reception totals in NC State history (76, 65, 55).

To be honest, I wouldn’t really consider J-Sam a Tight End. He was more of an H-Back, whose position was nearly impossible to define. You’d have to go back to Anthony Hill in 2006 to find a true Tight End at NC State that had the impact I expect Joly to eclipse. Hill had 45 receptions for 618 yards that year.

It’s been 4 years since a Wolfpack Tight End had 5 receptions in a game. The last player to do so was Cary Angeline, who had 5 receptions for 88 yards against Syracuse.

I know it’s only been one game, but I’ve seen enough to know that Joly is going to do something at the Tight End position that hasn’t been done at NC State in quite some time. NC State Offensive Coordinator Robert Anae is also the Tight Ends Coach, and has a reputation of featuring guys with Joly’s skillset in prominent and creative ways.