Florida

player headshot

Football

Daytona Beach (Florida) Mainland coach Travis Roland isn't shy when asked who Lawal "LJ" McCray reminds him of. “I think he has that freakish Jevon Kearse length, size and speed,” Roland said. “He's a super flexible athlete. His bend is amazing. He puts in a lot of effort. You don’t see many guys at 6-7 that can get in a low-aggressive stance like him. You should see him in DB drills – the fluidity is amazing.” It's a good thing when your high school coach compares you to an NFL Hall of Famer. But it's easy to see why he earned such high praise. McCray never came off the field during his time at Mainland, playing defensive line, receiver, tight end and even H-back. He racked up 47 tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks while recording 14 catches for two scores in 2022. "He just takes over the game," Roland said. McCray's father, Lawal, is a former successful high school coach who has spent more than a decade coaching in the college ranks at Bethune-Cookman. In fact, it was his father that helped turn him on to football in the first place. “I always told him, I’m not going to ask you to work out,” Lawal told 247Sports. "You can come ask me all you want, and we’ll go work out. There were many days I was watching my westerns on TV after long hours at work and he’d say, ‘Daddy let’s go to the field. Let’s go lift weights.' He’s been very determined since the sixth or seventh grade. He wants to be the best at what he does.”

team image

Mainland

LJ McCray

Organization Logo

Florida Gators

Edge

Florida and Ole Miss are set to meet in a game that has significantly different importance for each program. Naturally, the injury report will loom

Caleb-Banks-Florida-Gators

On3 Football

Caleb Banks injury: Gators DL status updated on Florida-Ole Miss Wednesday availability report

The Florida Gators issued an updated availability report on Thursday night, along with Kentucky. It’s the second of four injury reports

NCAA Football: Florida at Louisiana State

Gators Online Football

GatorsOnline

Florida Gators get good news at WR in Thursday's injury report

The Florida Gators issued their initial availability report on Wednesday night, along with Kentucky. It’s the first of four injury reports

Florida WR Eugene Wilson III. (Photo by @GatorsFB/UAA Communications)

Eugene-Wilson-III-Florida-Gators

Another standout Gators receiver out for Kentucky game

On Saturday, No. 5 Georgia (6-1, 4-1) will square off against Florida (3-4, 2-2) inside EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. It'll be the

Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia vs. Florida injury updates: Thursday availability report revealed

After both programs had a bye week to rest and recuperate, Florida and Georgia are set to meet in Jacksonville yet again. The stakes will be high.

jakobi-jackson-florida-gators

Ja'Kobi Jackson injury update: Status of Florida RB revealed on Wednesday injury report

Billy Napier’s time at Florida is over. His tenure never delivered the wins Gators fans were hoping for, but his work on the recruiting trail leaves

Billy-Napier-Florida-Gators

Gators Online Football Recruiting

With Billy Napier out, how will his recruiting be remembered at UF?

Mississippi State will enter The Swamp on Saturday to square off against Florida. Both teams lost last week and will be looking to get back in the

Bryce-Thornton-Florida-Gators

Cormani McClain injury update: Mississippi State at Florida Friday availability report revealed

Mississippi State is set to head to Florida this weekend in a battle of teams looking to turn their fortunes in the 2025 season. But while there is a

Florida-Gators-Ja'Kobi-Jackson

Ja'Kobi Jackson injury update: Wednesday report reveals status of Florida RB ahead of Mississippi State game

Florida and Texas A&M are set to meet in a conference showdown that will matter quite a bit for both schools. It could even have SEC Championship

Scooby Williams

Scooby Williams injury report: Wednesday injury report reveals Texas A&M LB's status vs. Florida

The Texas Longhorns are travelling to The Swamp to open SEC play by taking on the Florida Gators. It's the second year in a row these two will meet

Texas defense

Tre Wisner injury update: Latest provided on Texas RB vs. Florida in Thursday injury report

Florida has signed strong recruiting classes under Billy Napier. On paper, the Gators have talent at nearly every position. The 2026 class is shaping

Vernell-Brown-III-Florida-Gators

Florida recruiting vs. reality: Can promise meet the field?

Since Billy Napier took over at Florida and Mario Cristobal returned to his alma mater at Miami, the two programs have been locked in an important

Hylton-Drake-Stubbs-Florida-Gators

Florida Gators vs. Miami Hurricanes: Key recruiting victories under current coaches

Florida and LSU are set to meet in a pivotal SEC matchup, one that carries a little more urgency for the Gators after a loss last weekend. And the

LSU TE Trey'Dez Green caught two TD passes in the bowl game win in January (Photo: LSU Football)

Trey'Dez Green injury report: Thursday availability report revealed for LSU vs. Florida

Caleb Banks injury update: Wednesday availability report revealed for LSU vs. Florida

Florida Gators sophomore EDGE LJ McCray will have surgery Monday on his foot and is expected to miss multiple games, sources told Gators Online.

LJ-McCray-Florida-Gators

Gators EDGE LJ McCray to have surgery on broken foot, expected to miss significant time

Florida EDGE rusher LJ McCray will undergo foot surgery Monday, according to GatorsOnline. Keith Niebuhr reported he could be out around six to eight

USATSI_25645439 (1)

Florida Gators Football

Florida EDGE LJ McCray to undergo foot surgery

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Florida Gators have been without sophomore EDGE LJ McCray in camp since last week. McCray is currently sidelined with a

Florida Gators EDGE LJ McCray sidelined with an injury

Since taking over in Gainesville, Billy Napier has made it a priority to bring elite high school talent to the Florida Gators. While his tenure has

Florida-Gators-DJ-Lagway

Highest rated Florida Gators signings by Billy Napier at each position

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Before the Florida Gators returned to the football field for fall camp, three of their players got in the ring this summer. A

Florida-Gators-George-Gumbs-LJ-McCray

‘Fighting shape’: Florida EDGE rushers took up boxing this summer

The Florida Gators are buzzing about the potential and work ethic of sophomore EDGE LJ McCray, who is widely expected to play a significantly larger

'Phenomenal offseason' has LJ McCray poised for a Year 2 rise

Florida Gators defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, who is entering Year 2 with the program, covered a range of subjects when he met with the media

Key nuggets from Ron Roberts' Tuesday press conference

Welcome to our Bold Prediction series, where I take a crack at projecting how things will shake out this season for the Florida Gators. In this

Florida-Gators-LSU-Garrett-Nussmeier

Bold Prediction for Florida's sack total in 2025

Entering the 2025 season, numerous media outlets are calling the Florida Gators a Top 25 team. To accomplish that type of campaign, some players will

Second-year surge: Gators EDGE LJ McCray

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — With fall camp approaching, it’s time to delve into the Florida Gators football team and preview each position group.

Tyreak-Sapp-George-Gumbs-Jr-Florida-Gators

2025 Position Preview: Florida Gators EDGE rushers

Much of the hype with the Florida Gators in 2025 centers around quarterback DJ Lagway and a potentially high-powered offense. But the defense has

LJ McCray

Elite Verified

Class Year

2024

info

EDGE / 6-6 / 275

Industry Ranking

nil value

high school