From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on NC State TE Justin Joly.
No. 7 Justin Joly/TE NC State 6034/241 (Fourth-year Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Justin Joly 6034/241 10′ 1/2″ 32′ 1/4″ N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
The Good
– Large hand size that helps with grip strength
– Thick, muscular lower body build
– Good power for his size
– Natural lower center of gravity
– Good initial explosiveness and acceleration
– Great body control and high-point capability
– Attacks the ball at its peak and keeps defenders from playing through his body
– Excellent concentration and highly dependable in contested catch situations
– Able to contort his body mid-air, enhancing his quarterback’s margin for error
– Sophisticated release package that freezes defenders in off-coverage
– Innate feel for finding the soft spot in zone defenses
– Good awareness in scramble drill situations to present himself as a target for the quarterback
– Difficult to bring down on initial contact
– Physical runner after the catch
– Good blocker when placed on the move
– Chippy, aggressive mindset
The Bad
– Slightly undersized for a traditional tight end role
– Drifts or rounds off the top of his routes, leaving an opportunity for the passing lane to be undercut
– Not overly elusive in the open field
– Doesn’t have blazing breakaway speed
– Lacks the strength to function in-line
– Drops his eyes and over-extends when blocking
– Hand placement is erratic
– Unable to sustain blocks for an extended period of time
Stats
– 2025 stats: 49 catches, 489 yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 yards per reception, 1 drop
– NC State Career Stats: 92 catches, 1150 yards, 11 touchdowns, 12.5 yards per catch, 4 drops, 25 games played
– UConn Career Stats: 74 catches, 828 yards, 4 touchdowns, 11.2 yards per reception, 6 drops, 24 games played
– Career Stats: 166 catches, 1978 yards, 15 touchdowns, 11.9 yards per reception, 10 drops, 49 games played
– 1.9 yards per route run (2025)
– 7.6 average depth of target (2025)
– 3.7 yards after catch per reception (2025)
Injury History
– Suffered a hamstring strain vs. Pitt that forced him to miss one game (2025)
Background
– Born July 9th, 2004 (21 years old)
– Transferred from UConn after his sophomore season (2024)
– Decided to transfer due to “culture” and “academic competition”
– 2-star recruit that led Iona Prep to a CHSFL AAA Championship
– 22 touchdowns in 3 varsity seasons
– First team All-State and Journal News Player of the year during his senior year (2021)
– Dual-sport athlete who played basketball as well
– 3.7 GPA at Iona Prep
– Pre-season watch list for Mackey Award (2024)
– First-team All-ACC (2025)
– Gained over 35 pounds since his freshman campaign of college (15 pounds prior to his transfer to NC State)
– Member of the African American Society
– Volunteers with the Jack and Jill Foundation
– Commuted from Brewster, NY, to New Rochelle to face stiffer competition in high school
– Avid photographer
– Openly discusses his love for cologne and has a collection of fragrances
– Majors in Sports Management
Tape Breakdown
Joly, a former high school receiver, plays the tight end position as if he’s still on the boundary. He is one of the premier receiving threats in this class. Over his collegiate career, he added more than 35 pounds of lean mass while transitioning to his new role. The added weight slightly diminished his high-end straight-line speed, but he still moves exceptionally well for his size.
His calling card, without question, is his hands. They’re as reliable as glue, even in contested situations. He thrives on 50-50 balls thanks to his expansive catch radius and outstanding body control. While Joly isn’t the most dynamic separator in man coverage, his size allows him to box out smaller defenders and win through positioning.
Joly also shows excellent awareness when his quarterback is forced into a scramble drill. While many receivers struggle to uncover and present themselves as viable targets, Joly thrives in these situations. He has no hesitation breaking off his assigned route to find a void in the defense and give his quarterback a reliable option to extend the play.
His excellence in this area stems from his innate ability to find soft spots in coverage. While his man-to-man separation is not always consistent due to limited twitch, he has a strong feel for how to work himself open. Many players tend to drift aimlessly into coverage zones, making life easier on defenders, but Joly understands when to gear down, sit in space, and present himself as a clean target.
The most underrated aspect of his game is his ability after the catch. He isn’t the most dynamic player in space. Instead, he wins with power more than finesse. Joly is unlikely to break ankles in the open field with his elusiveness, but he is more than willing to lower his shoulder to grind out extra yards. His contact balance and lower-body strength make him difficult to bring down on first contact, unless his momentum is already carrying him to the ground.
As a bonus, Joly accomplished something that very few players manage to do. It’s rare to find a player willing to push through a pulled hamstring mid-play and still have the determination to fight his way into the end zone. A play like that speaks volumes about Joly’s mental toughness and pain tolerance.
Conclusion
Converting from a high school wide receiver to a first-team All-ACC tight end in four years is no easy feat, but Joly has managed to do it. Turn on the film and it quickly becomes apparent how dynamic he is as a pass catcher. His reliable hands, even in high-leverage situations, give him a high floor from Day 1 in the right system.
Joly will need to land in an ideal scheme to reach his ceiling. Optimally, he pairs with an innovative coordinator who frequently uses 12- or 13-personnel, allowing him to operate as the de facto “move” tight end. His play strength is currently too limited to profile as a true in-line tight end, and he is likely to lose more run-blocking reps than he wins.
The wide range of his projection stems from the uncertainty surrounding the scheme he enters. There is no question that he has long-term starting potential thanks to his receiving skill set. However, if he is forced into a role that doesn’t align with his strengths, it could significantly cap his developmental trajectory.
A prospect comparison that consistently comes to mind when watching Joly is Isaiah Likely. Both are dynamic receiving threats who must be deployed in roles that maximize their skill sets. Likely has steadily improved as a blocker, but asking him to handle heavy in-line duties is less than ideal. Similarly, Joly would be best paired with a more traditional tight end capable of taking on the bulk of in-line blocking responsibilities.
NFL Draft Projection: Mid-Late Day 2
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.6 (Spot Starter)
Grade Range: 7.0 – 8.1
Games Watched: @ Clemson (2024), vs. Stanford (2024), @ Duke (2025), @ Pitt (2025), vs. Florida State (2025), vs. Memphis (2025)
Recommended for you