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

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr09/08/25On3Keith
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]

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

McCray made his season debut last Saturday against USF and had a QB hurry. He received four snaps and played with a brace on his left knee. But he was injured in the game.

McCray potentially might miss “six to eight weeks.” Said a source: “He’s gonna be out a minute. But he’s a tough kid.”

“LJ broke his foot in the game,” Gators coach Billy Napier said. “He’ll be out for a chunk of time.”

McCray, a former 5-star recruit, missed Florida’s opener with a lower leg injury sustained in August. He was hurt during a pile up in practice, sources said. He was expected to be a key player on the Florida defense in 2025.

McCray played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2024, 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.

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