There’s a big name making his way to Raleigh this weekend - and he might just be the kind of offensive weapon that could reshape NC State’s tight end room. Vander Ploog, a 6-foot-6, 242-pound tight end transferring from Oregon, is taking an official visit with the Wolfpack, and there’s plenty of reason for excitement.
Let’s start with the basics: Ploog redshirted his first year with the Ducks, which means he still has four full years of eligibility left. That’s a rare combination - a high-upside talent with elite physical tools and a full college clock still ticking. In other words, whoever lands him isn’t just getting a short-term fix; they’re getting a long-term building block.
Ploog’s pedigree backs up the hype. Coming out of Troy High School in Fullerton, California, he was a consensus four-star prospect in the 2025 class.
Rivals had him pegged as the No. 166 overall player in the country, the No. 4 tight end nationally, and the No. 14 player in the talent-rich state of California. That’s not just good - that’s elite company.
And it wasn’t just recruiting hype. Ploog’s senior season at Troy was nothing short of dominant.
He caught 75 passes for 1,148 yards and 17 touchdowns - eye-popping numbers for any receiver, let alone a tight end. He wasn’t just a red-zone threat; he was a do-it-all playmaker.
Add in 123 rushing yards and three more scores on the ground, and you start to see the full picture: this is a tight end who can line up all over the field and create mismatches in a variety of ways.
Now, as a transfer, Ploog is drawing national attention once again. ON3 rates him as a four-star transfer prospect, slotting him as the No. 122 overall player to enter the portal this offseason and the No. 7 tight end available. That kind of ranking speaks volumes - not just about his potential, but about how much upside coaches and analysts still see in him, even after a redshirt year.
For NC State, a program that’s looking to add more dynamic options to its offensive arsenal, this visit could be a pivotal moment. Tight ends who can stretch the field, block in the run game, and serve as reliable safety valves in the passing attack are gold in today’s college game. And with Ploog’s size, athleticism, and production history, he checks every box.
We’ll see how the visit goes, but one thing’s clear: Vander Ploog is a name to watch, and NC State is firmly in the mix for one of the most intriguing young tight ends in the portal this cycle.