NC State TE Justin Joly Talks Wolfpack Football At The 2025 ACC Football Kickoff

NC State tight end Justin Joly met with the media at the 2025 ACC Football Kickoff. Check out what all he had to say about his second season with the Wolfpack, the offense, and more!

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview!

Did you know this was possible? You know, as an underrated recruit, kind of being able to get to the position you're in? 

Honestly, whatever I have my mindset on, I'm usually good at obtaining. So, obviously I wasn't recruited, I already played. It don't matter to me. As long as you give me the chance, I'll take it I'll open that door. 

What’s it like to prove it now and be in this spot? 

I don't know yet because it's not proven. 

Justin, from a different standpoint, what are some of the biggest improvements you've seen from last year to this year? 

I'll say my inside hands. I'll say Coach Gavin Locklear, that's the way he emphasizes inside hands and go forward. So, I think that's something that's really critical in my game that I think I need to take a look at. 

Justin, the last time you laced up was that military bowl against East Carolina. I know it didn't go the way you wanted to, but you get that rematch to start off the season in your house in Raleigh. How excited are you to face East Carolina again?
I'm excited, man. I like it here. I love the game of football, so I'm just happy to be on the field, hit other people, and play against a different color jersey. I love the color red, but you know, hitting them so many times, you're going to get dizzy. But, yeah, man, I was going to be moving. 

Is there a little extra motivation? 

For me, like I said, football is football. And I want to win every game the same way I've won games in the last couple of years. 

What went into your outfit?

You know, I'm a bold person. I'm a bold player on the field. I like to make a statement, so why not make a statement with what I'm wearing? 

Is it custom? 

Of course. 

What's it been like staying out like Duke Scott, you know, last year, last year, this year? Duke Scott, hey, y'all are going to love that name. That boy is a player. He lifts. He's fast. He understands the vision. He got hands. I think y'all, y'all going to see between him and Hollywood, y'all going to see what he's really about this season. 
 

What's his best trait? 

Ball carrier control.
 

Who have been some of the other young players that have stood out to you so far? I mean, whether it's guys rising through freshman last year or guys just not coming in.
I still think someone who's really underrated is Keenan Jackson. I feel like he doesn't get as far as him. Terrell Anderson. Honestly, the whole wide receiver group. Also, someone that you guys probably already know about, Spike. He's going to be really good for us. Teague is still decently young, so I'll say Teague as well.

Why did you return? I know there's so many teammates chasing you in the offices in this day and age. Why did you return? 

I had something else to prove to myself and to the teams. I didn't want to leave any stone unturned. 

The tight end is sort of a conduit position between the skills and the fronts. What is it about that bridge sort of position that appeals to you? And what are some of the aspects of it that you want to improve upon this season? 

We're like the middle man. We're like the little spark between the White House and the big guys. And I love that because I love communicating with my teammates. If you couldn't tell, I like to talk. So I would say between that and I would say for the biggest part of my game, I'll say my blocking, man. I know I've been trying to pitch around that for a couple years, but I feel like it's really evident. I put on the pounds. I put on the muscle. So I think that's something that we look forward to next year. 

You can block in the box and out in the flats and all that? 

Yeah, a little bit of everything. 

You said you didn't leave any stone unturned. What stones do you feel like you have that are unturned now at this point? 

No matter what I do, how good y'all might think I am, there's never nothing I can't get better at. So every stone. 

What was that like with the schools coming out? Was that kind of stressful?
Nah, man. As long as I knew that I could come back and have my QB year, I had no – I wasn't strained at all. Obviously, there's a lot of people or a lot of schools offering a good amount or I had a good situation. It was like, why go there and restart when I know what I have here? 

All you do is catch touchdown passes. What is that all about? How do you do that? Chris Carter, they once said that about him. What is it about you in the red zone?
I just found a way to get open. 

On CJ Bailey 

I will say that from CJ, I've seen obviously the leadership role and his work ethic. We were working out Wednesday morning before he even drove over here. I love working with CJ. He knows the type of player I am and he knows where to put it. He's starting to analyze that and understand that with his whole wide receiver core. 

CJ says people are doubting this team. Why do you think that is? 

Honestly, if they are, props to them. I can't wait to see them as well, no worries once the season is over. .
 

What gives you thought that that's going to take place? 

Just the people in the building, the people on the team, the people who actually play football. I'm looking forward to it. 

Regarding how last season ended 

Obviously, you can't change the past. Obviously, we know what happened. We want to go to the game. We want to win. We want to win every single game we see. That's how I'm going to tell them. 

You get a thrill out of catching the touchdown pass or the big block. Which one gives you the bigger thrill? 

If it's a really good big block, I'll definitely take the big block. If it's a touchdown pass over two people, I'll take the touchdown pass. It just matters the scenario that you're getting in.