NC State’s Justin Joly and Brandon Cleveland Earn 2026 NFL Combine Invites

Two more Wolfpack standouts are headed to Indianapolis.

Tight end Justin Joly and defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland will represent NC State at the 2026 NFL Combine, which takes place February 23 through March 2 in Indianapolis.

A total of 319 prospects received invitations this year, with 50 coming from ACC programs. The NFL Combine remains the ultimate pre-draft stage, where prospects showcase athletic testing, position drills, and interview skills in front of NFL decision-makers. The event will be televised on NFL Network.

Last season, offensive tackle Anthony Belton represented the Wolfpack in Indianapolis. The year before that, linebacker Payton Wilson and center Dylan McMahon earned invites.

Justin Joly’s Record-Breaking Run

Joly capped off his NC State career in dominant fashion.

He finished the season with:

• 49 receptions
• 489 receiving yards
• 7 touchdown catches

Those 7 touchdowns were tied for the 2nd most nationally by a tight end, and his 49 receptions ranked 8th nationally at the position.

Joly also set a new school record for touchdown receptions by a tight end. He led the team in receptions and touchdown receptions, and ranked second in receiving yards. He earned First Team All-ACC honors and posted a 77.9 overall PFF grade – the highest among receiving tight ends in the ACC.

Even though Joly was only in Raleigh for two seasons, you can absolutely make the case he’s the best tight end to ever wear an NC State uniform.

Brandon Cleveland’s NFL Frame

Cleveland wrapped up his senior season with:

• 36 tackles
• 7 tackles for loss
• 2 sacks

At 6’4” and 315 pounds, Cleveland has the prototypical size of an NFL interior defensive lineman. He added 25 pounds during his time in Raleigh and developed into a physical presence in the middle. His 72.1 PFF grade this fall reflects steady, consistent play in the trenches.

He may not have had the splash statistics, but NFL teams love size, strength, and developmental upside. Cleveland checks those boxes.

NC State NFL Combine Invites Under Dave Doeren

Under head coach Dave Doeren, NC State has consistently sent talent to Indianapolis:

TE Justin Joly – 2026
DT Brandon Cleveland – 2026
OT Anthony Belton – 2025
LB Payton Wilson – 2024
C Dylan McMahon – 2024
LB Isaiah Moore – 2023
OT Ickey Ekwonu – 2022
RB Bam Knight – 2022
DT Alim McNeill – 2021
DT Larrell Murchison – 2020
DE James Smith-Williams – 2020
QB Ryan Finely – 2019
C Garrett Bradbury – 2019
WR Kelvin Harmon – 2019
OL Tyler Jones – 2019
RB Nyheim Hines – 2018
RB Jaylen Samuels – 2018
OT Will Richardson – 2018
DE Bradley Chubb – 2018
DT BJ Hill – 2018
DT Justin Jones – 2018
DE Kentavius Street – 2018
RB Matt Dayes – 2017
S Josh Jones – 2017
CB Jack Tocho – 2017
OT Joe Thuney – 2016
OT Rob Crisp – 2015
CB Dontae Johnson – 2014

Another year. Two more Wolfpack names stepping onto the biggest pre-draft stage in football.