Vander Ploog. Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

NC State lands massive TE transfer from Oregon in Vander Ploog

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jan 20, 2026 7:27 PM ET

The NC State Wolfpack have secured the commitment of a player in the transfer portal who could be a real game-changer.

That would be tight end Vander Ploog, who spent this past season with the Oregon Ducks before entering the transfer portal last week.

Checking in at 6-foot-6, 242 pounds from Fullerton, California, Ploog took a redshirt season with Oregon, so he'll have four full years of eligibility moving forward.

Whether or not he spends the next four seasons in Raleigh is anyone's guess, especialy in the NIL and transfer-portal era. He, without a doubt, represents a big personnel win for longtime Wolfpack football coach Dave Doeren, though.

On3's Hayes Fawcett reported Ploog's commitment to NC State.

BREAKING: Oregon true freshman transfer TE Vander Ploog has Committed to NC State, he tells @On3

The 6’6 240 TE will have 4 years of eligibility remaining

He was a Top 10 TE in the 2025 Class (per On3) https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/IUznODdnm9
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 20, 2026

There's reason to believe Ploog could be a very good player for the Wolfpack.

Vander Ploog represents an interesting transfer addition for NC State Wolfpack

Ploog is a former four-star recruit, ranked as the No. 11 tight end in the 2025 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

In high school, he notched over 2,200 yards and 37 touchdowns in three seasons. In his senior season, which put him on the map, he tallied 75 catches for 1,148 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Ploog was an extremely talented tight end recruit, and one would imagine that a redshirt year with with Dan Lanning and the Ducks was great for his development.

He's the sixteenth player to transfer to NC State this cycle.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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