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Florida Gators EDGE LJ McCray sidelined with an injury

On3 imageby: Zach Abolverdi08/11/25ZachAbolverdi
LJ-McCray-Florida-Gators
Florida Gators EDGE LJ McCray (11) looks on during spring football practice at Heavener Football Complex at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators have been without sophomore EDGE LJ McCray in camp since last week. McCray is currently sidelined with a lower-body injury, Gators Online has learned.

McCray’s status is week-to-week, according to multiple sources, but his injury is not major or season-ending and won’t require surgery. He was hurt during a pile up in practice, sources said.

McCray missed the scrimmage Saturday and was still out on Monday, but the belief is he potentially could be back practicing in a couple weeks.

McCray played in all 13 games as a freshman, finishing with 13 total tackles (3 solo), 1.0 tackles-for-loss and 0.5 sacks. He was tied for second on the team with five quarterback hurries.

“LJ got some experience last year. So it’s time for him to take a big jump. And we need him to,” Florida coach Billy Napier said of McCray at the start of training camp. “And he has position flex at Jack and F. I think he can play both spots. LJ, I think, did a great job of taking the feedback from the weight room and nutrition from the spring semester, really bought in in that regard and changed his body comp. He’s starting to look like a guy who’s ready to play in this league and be a factor.”

McCray moved this spring from the F position to JACK outside linebacker. After playing last season behind Tyreak Sapp and Kamran James, McCray made the switch to help the Gators fill the void at OLB after they lost their top two players at that spot, Jack Pyburn and TJ Searcy.

Senior George Gumbs Jr. will start at JACK, but McCray is expected to have a much bigger role this year and play more snaps in the EDGE rotation. Freshman Jayden Woods has also been getting reps with the starters at outside linebacker.

“He’s got a tremendous skill set. Very talented,” Florida defensive coordinator Ron Roberts said of McCray. “You can see the growth, potential what he did. He changed his body and all that stuff, (from) what I see on the field. Sometimes to this point, you can jump ahead, and not trying to put pressure on a player. You want to see them do it in the season. But I would suspect and I’m hoping he has a break-out season and he’s an impact player that we all think he can be. I think he can do that.”

Gators Online’s Keith Niebuhr contributed to this report.

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