Hey nerds! Welcome to the Dynasty Nerds 2026 Rookie Profile Series, where we break down the upcoming NFL Draft’s top prospects using All-22 Film, production data and dynasty-specific context.
This profile focuses on Justin Jolyan intriguing tight prospect State of North Carolina. Using the Dynasty Nerds Film Room, we explore Joly’s background, on-field strengths, areas of development, and projected view of the dynasty in 12-team SuperFlex PPR formats.
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Justin Joly | Tight end | State of North Carolina
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 251 pounds.
Justin Joly is one of the most highly touted tight ends in the class of 2026. He was a two-star recruit out of Iona Prep School in New Rochelle, New York and was originally lightly recruited in the college ranks. He eventually signed to play for the University of Connecticut. Joly spent his first two seasons in East Hartford and showed significant development. You’ll see in his stats below that he more than doubled his catches and yards from his freshman to his sophomore season. His excellent sophomore campaign generated a lot of interest in the transfer portal. Joly ultimately chose to leave UConn and attend NC State after receiving offers from other Power-5 schools, including Tennessee and Houston. You can see from his numbers below that he was more than a match for the jump in the league.
Joly did a great job with the Wolfpack. He was one of the top weapons for a team that had back-to-back bowl appearances and the program’s first bowl win since 2017, when they won the Gasparilla Bowl 31-7 over the Memphis Tigers. Joly’s efforts were good enough to make a profit First-team All-ACC honor.
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Rookie profile | Strengths and weaknesses
One of the first things you notice about Justin Joly when you watch his film is that he provides very nice positional diversity. The Wolfpack lined him up everywhere in the first formation. Put on an All-22 game from him and you’ll see him lined up, in the backfield and even in the slot. This will make him an attractive player at the next level as he can function as both a TE and H-back. He will need some work on his blocking skills, but you can tell from his utility that he is more than a willing blocker.
Another quality that really stands out when you watch Joly play is that he doesn’t drop the ball. He has some of the best hands in the class. Multiple sources have his contested catch rate at over 80%, which is an excellent number for a TE mixing it up with linebackers and safeties. He is the definition of a QB’s best friend.
While he will never be confused with Vernon Davis in terms of speed, Justin Joly does have some run-after-catch ability. This ability became very apparent during his breakout junior season at NC State. That season, he enjoyed the best total yardage season of his collegiate career with 661 receiving yards on just 43 catches. That’s a very high 15.4 ypc. Of those 661 yards, 136 yards were pure YAC. That’s about 20% of his career-best yards after the catch.
Justin Joly | All 22 movie glitches
One of the biggest benefits of a Nerd Herd subscription is access to our All-22 Film Room. We have several NC State games available. For this article, the Pitt game stands out. Trying to keep the Wolfpack in the game, the versatile tight end scorched the Panthers for 101 yards and a pair of scores on 6 grabs.
This game highlights the entirety of Joly’s game. He does a really good job in the blocking game at the end of the line while holding the point of attack. He contributes as a blocker from the slot position on WR screens. He scores his first touchdown from the outside after moving to the inside, showing some nice movement skills. His contested catching ability is also on full display, allowing him to grab onto defenders all around him. Then on his final play of the game, he makes a huge trick play TD catch, showing excellent concentration and a beautiful over-the-shoulder grab. Unfortunately, he pulled his hamstring on the play, but he has the heart to get to the end zone before leaving the game. Just a really nice display of all the skills he brings.
Concept Capital | Potential landing sites
Overall, I have to say I was quite impressed with Justin Joly. Admittedly, I hadn’t seen much tape on this player before scouting him for this article. What I saw was quite impressive. It’s easy to see why he earned 1st Team All-ACC honors. When I watched him play, I saw a player reminiscent of former PSU and current Jacksonville starting tight end Brenton Strange. A shorter, more compact TE who can play all over the field and make an impact as both a blocker and pass catcher. I don’t expect him to get 2nd round draft capital like Strange, but I do believe he will hear his name called sometime during the 3rd round of the upcoming NFL Draft.
Tight End will be one of the biggest chess positions in the NFL. Teams that can field 2 and 3 TE sets and still have useful weapons on the field are taking over as the best offensive units in the league. Go back and take a look at some of the best offensive units in the league, like the Rams, Bills, Bears and Ravens. They all make excellent use of multiple tight end formations to confuse defenses and dictate coverage against athletic tight ends. The Dolphins, Bengals and Broncos would all be excellent landing spots for this versatile TE. If he lands in a good spot, he could be a sneaky pick in the second round of your TE Premium Dynasty Drafts.
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🧠 People also ask about Justin Joly
Who is Justin Joly and why is Justin Joly one of the top NFL Draft prospects?
A: Justin Joly hails from North Carolina State and earned First Team All-ACC honors after becoming one of the Wolfpack’s top offensive weapons. His versatility, strong hands and ability to line up in different formations make him an attractive NFL prospect.
What is Justin Joly’s projected NFL Draft range?
A: Based on his All-ACC production and film evaluation, Justin Joly is expected to be selected in the third round of the NFL Draft.
Is Justin Joly a good choice for a dynasty fantasy football newcomer?
A: Justin Joly offers intriguing dynasty upside, especially in SuperFlex and TE Premium formats, due to his reliable hands, positional versatility and potential role in multi-tight end NFL offenses.
Which NFL teams are the best potential landing spots for Justin Joly?
A: The Dolphins, Bengals and Broncos stand out as strong potential landing spots because all three offenses use tight ends creatively and value versatile pass-catching options.
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