A UConn transfer who tied NC State's single-season tight end touchdown record and earned Senior Bowl MVP honors before Denver drafted him in the fifth round.
Justin Joly went from a two-star recruit at UConn to a first-team All-ACC tight end at NC State, capping his college career with a standout performance at the Senior Bowl. The Denver Broncos drafted him in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft after Mel Kiper had once rated him as the third-best tight end in the class.
Path to the league
Joly starred at multiple positions at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York, before signing with UConn as a lightly recruited two-star prospect and converting to tight end as a true freshman. He transferred to NC State in January 2024 and was drafted by Denver in the fifth round, 152nd overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Joly led UConn with 56 receptions for 578 yards as a sophomore in 2023 before transferring to NC State, where he immediately made an impact with 43 catches for 661 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, averaging 15.4 yards per reception, fourth among all FBS tight ends that season.
2025 season recap
In his senior season at NC State in 2025, Joly caught 49 passes for 489 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns, tying the program's single-season tight end touchdown record, and earned first-team All-ACC honors. He capped his college career by winning Tight End MVP at the 2026 Senior Bowl before Denver drafted him in the fifth round.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Justin Joly
- SI: NC State Tight End Justin Joly Goes to Denver in Fifth Round of NFL Draft
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Tight End
- Group
- offense
- College
- NC State
- Hometown
- Brewster, NY, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
