The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536961
JULY/AUGUST 2025 ■ 31 ❱ ❱ ❱ TIGHT ENDS DO-IT-ALL PLAYERS BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN D uring Robert Anae's tenure as offensive coordinator, NC State's tight ends tended to be split into two separate categories: There were blockers, and there were big-bodied wide receivers. But with Kurt Roper now in charge of the offense, the Wolfpack is focused on having do-it-all tight ends. Justin Joly impressed in his debut season after transferring from Con- necticut, leading the Wolfpack with 661 receiving yards and ranking sec- ond with 43 catches. His exceptional hands were on full display, but now the staff is focused on helping him de- velop into a well-rounded tight end as a senior. That means becoming a pun- ishing blocker in Roper's high-tempo, pro-style system. "Where Justin's growth is going to help him next year and beyond is his ability to block," Roper said. "He's really grown in that area. He's a skilled tight end, a dif- ference-maker in the pass game for sure, but he's grown in the blocking game." Joly was ranked as the top tight end in college football by On3 this offsea- son. He's the most celebrated player in the Wolfpack's room, but he isn't alone. NC State also returns redshirt senior Dante Daniels, a Canadian who rose through the junior col- lege ranks, for his second season with the Pack, and it added Elon transfer Cody Hardy to the mix through the transfer portal. Hardy, a senior who served as a key blocking tight end dur- ing his three years at the FCS level, was among the team's most impactful transfer portal signings this offseason, head coach Dave Doeren said. "Cody Hardy has really been a nice addition. He impacted our run game in the spring," Doeren said. "He did some really good things." Although Hardy brings a gritty mindset as a go-to blocker in run sets, he has modest receiving numbers. He posted 6 receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown last fall at Elon. Hardy and Joly complement each other well, while Dan- iels is another bruising blocker in the group. Together, they look to add versatility to NC State's offense this fall. "We've got two guys that can function in everything that we do offensively," Roper said of Joly and Hardy. "They don't have to just be plug-ins for certain things. Hope- fully, we can hide tendencies. And then Dante is more experienced now than he was, and he's a big body. We're fortunate to have those three guys." SPOTLIGHT PLAYER SENIOR JUSTIN JOLY Joly was among the top tight ends in college football a year ago and is ex- pected to take another step forward after he returned to NC State instead of entering the transfer portal or the NFL Draft. The Brewster, N.Y., native led all FBS tight ends with an 84.6 percent con- tested-catch rate last season, proving no pass is too difficult for him to haul in. Or as he put it, "If it's in the air, and you want the ball more, go catch it." Seems easy enough. For NC State tight ends coach Gavin Locklear, who is in his first year as a full-time assistant, Joly's skill set is unrivaled, and so is his drive to succeed. "The thing I love about Justin the most is his passion," Locklear said. "He's a very passionate player. He loves the game of football. … It's just really a matter of get - ting him to buy into everything he does on a daily basis to outwork everybody else that's in the same position as him." BY THE NUMBERS 84.6 Justin Joly's contested-catch percentage (11 of 13) during the 2024 season, the best mark by any tight end in the FBS with at least 9 attempts. 2 Number of quarterback pressures Cody Hardy allowed in 49 pass-blocking snaps at Elon last season. 415 Total receiving yards freshman Gus Ritchey logged as a senior at Cary (N.C.) High. ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTER ★★★ ½ Justin Joly is among the best tight ends in college football going into the 2025 sea- son. On3 ranked him as the No. 1 returning player at his position, and NC State will lean on the former Connecticut transfer this fall. EXPERIENCE ★★★ The three most experienced tight ends in the room all have seen plenty of snaps, though not all at the FBS level. Joly leads the Pack, with redshirt senior Dante Daniels and senior Cody Hardy behind him to bolster the group. DEPTH ★★★ NC State's tight end group boasts more depth than it had a year ago. With three ex- perienced players at its disposal, the Pack shouldn't have an issue with using two-tight end sets in the fall. Its two freshman tight ends are also capable of playing if needed. OVERALL GRADE ★★★ ½ This position group could be one of the more intriguing parts of the offense with Joly poised to take another step forward and Daniels and Hardy providing depth and flexibility. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTER No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 7 Justin Joly Sr. 6-3 251 Brewster, N.Y. BACKUPS 44 Cody Hardy Sr. 6-4 268 Monroe, N.C. 87 Dante Daniels R-Sr. 6-6 272 Windsor, Ontario WAITING IN THE WINGS 89 Gus Ritchey Fr. 6-2 235 Pittsboro, N.C. 82 Preston Douglas Fr. 6-3 225 Jupiter, Fla. JUSTIN JOLY PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL