The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523120
JULY/AUGUST 2024 ■ 31 ❱ ❱ ❱ TIGHT ENDS SWISS ARMY KNIVES BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN N C State offensive coordinator Robert Anae loves having a versatile tight ends room. At his previous stops, he found success with athletic tight ends, including Syracuse's Oronde Gadsden II. With Anae entering his second year in Raleigh, the position group is getting closer and closer to where he wants it. Anae likes to split the tight ends into two groups: flex-Y and the traditional tight end. The flex-Y is more of a wide receiver hybrid, the type of player who can get downfield in the passing game while also assisting in the run game when needed. The Wolfpack used then-freshman Javonte "Juice" Vereen in that spot at times last season, but converted running back Trent Pennix was the team's primary flex-Y tight end. Pennix has exhausted his eligibility, so the Pack went into the transfer portal for his replacement. It emerged with the top-ranked tight end avail- able: Connecticut's Justin Joly. A 6-foot- 3 , 2 3 5 - p o u n d e r from Brewster, N.Y., Joly impressed in his sopho- more campaign with the Huskies, catching 56 passes for 578 yards and 2 touchdowns. He offers a mix of every- thing Anae is looking for at the position, as he showed in spring practice. "He is the ultimate Swiss Army Knife," Anae said. "And that position that he plays, the more things he can do, the more versatile the offense becomes. If you can play in the box and if you can play outside of the box and it's at an all-conference level, that's really what we're looking for." While Joly brings a proven track record at the position, Ver- een showed flashes in his first year. He led the team with 65 receiving yards against Notre Dame, but his usage went down as the season progressed, and now he's battling Joly for time in the flex-Y spot. Anae said he likes the sophomore's potential. "He's a year more advanced and developed in the program," Anae noted. "He will contribute, I hope, at a high level. Be- cause of a lack of depth in the offense, we played Javonte a lot last year, and there were signs of a higher ceiling. We look to continue to get to that point consistently." In addition to the two flex-Y players, NC State has a pair of traditional blocking tight ends. The Pack picked up junior college transfer Dante Daniels before the spring, while walk- on Reid Mitchell played significantly as a redshirt freshman last fall. The Wolfpack hasn't won an All-ACC accolade at the posi- tion since Cary Angeline received honorable mention notice in 2020. Anae wants that to change this fall. "I'd like to see at the end of the year that there is some level of all-conference recognition — first, second, third team, hon- orable mention," he said. "Something to signify that the tight end spot is back." JUICE VEREEN PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTER No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 15 Justin Joly Jr. 6-3 235 Brewster, N.Y. BACKUPS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 87 Dante Daniels R-Jr. 6-6 267 Windsor, Ontario 11 Javonte "Juice" Vereen So. 6-4 214 Havelock, N.C. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 49 Reid Mitchell R-So. 6-4 246 Concord, N.C. SPOTLIGHT PLAYER JUNIOR JUSTIN JOLY Joly is the Wolfpack's top tight end option heading into the fall after a stellar sophomore season at Connecticut. He was a sought-after transfer target, and the Wolfpack was able to beat out the likes of Louisville and Indiana to secure his services. NC State's culture ended up being a big reason why Joly chose the Wolfpack. "They're a great school with great players and great staff," he said. "Once I got there, it felt like I'd been there already. … The coaches and players, staff, strength and conditioning, everyone was welcoming with open arms, and they made it feel like a home away from home." ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTER ★★★ ½ Justin Joly is a game-changing tight end when he's playing at his full potential. He averaged 12 yards per catch last season at UConn and surpassed 70 receiving yards in three games. EXPERIENCE ★★ ½ The entire room has collegiate playing experience heading into the 2024 season. That will be important moving forward, with Joly front and center. Dante Daniels impressed at the junior college level, winning All-America notice, but he'll be facing tougher competition in the ACC. DEPTH ★★½ If it can avoid injuries, the Wolfpack should feel good about how the tight ends room is taking shape. However, if the injury bug appears, NC State's ability to lean on this room will be impacted. OVERALL GRADE ★★★ After getting 19 catches for 255 yards and 3 touchdowns from its tight ends last fall, NC State is expecting more productivity in 2024. The manpower is in place to make that happen. BY THE NUMBERS 65 Juice Vereen's yardage total against 10th-ranked Notre Dame last season. It was a career-best for Vereen, who caught 4 passes that day. 164 Reid Mitchell's total snaps played last season, 115 of which came as a run blocker. 578 Justin Joly's receiving yardage total during his sophomore year at UConn. Joly more than doubled his freshman total of 250 yards. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN