5-star DL LJ McCray commits to Florida: 'They can put me in a position where I want to go'

No school recruited Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray as long or as hard as Florida did.

The Gators were the first school he took an unofficial visit to 18 months ago, and they were among the first Power Five schools to offer him a scholarship. Auburn, Miami, Florida State and Georgia all came into the picture at different points and even led in some spots. Those programs made up his final five schools.

But ultimately it was the Gators who won out on Saturday afternoon, keeping the nation’s No. 1 defensive lineman in the On300 rankings at home.

“I have great relationships with Coach Napier and my position coaches, and I feel like they can put me in a position where I want to go,” he told On3.

McCray added that the decision process was much harder than he anticipated, as he felt like he could fit in at each of the five schools. Ultimately though, he felt Florida put him in the best position to succeed and develop as a player.

“They know my skill set, that I’m pretty versatile and that they can develop me more in ways that I’m not as strong in,” he said. “Definitely told me and preached that I can be used anywhere down the line.”

Florida came from behind to pull it off

Coming out of his official visits this summer, McCray felt like Miami and Auburn were the two schools at the top of his list. But as time went on, he saw the connections he had in Gainesville and the momentum that was building behind the program. Florida State hosted him for his final official visit and gave UF a run for its money.

But ultimately it came down to where he could see himself the best for the next three to four years.

“It was really about self-reflecting, where do I want to be, where do I truly want to be?” he said. “When it gets tough, where do I still want to be and enjoy, so that’s what it was gonna come down to.”

Multiple Gators staffers pitched in to land McCray

Napier played a major role in recruiting him and sealing the deal, but Florida’s defensive coaching staff made him a top priority as well. He was on campus in Gainesville multiple times, and defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong and position coaches Mike Peterson and Sean Spence made it feel like home to him.

“It’s definitely a family-like [atmosphere]; I can see myself there for sure,” he added.

The Gators hosted him four times since March, including for his official visit in June. He returned to the Swamp last month, and he can feel the momentum building around the program. The Gators’ recent win over Tennessee was just an example of that to him.

“That was a big game for them to win, especially with Coach Napier’s recruiting class,” he said. “I feel like definitely that was a super big win for his career, honestly.”

Multiple Florida commits have also been recruiting him, and he’s excited to suit up with them at the next level. But he also couldn’t deny the excitement of playing at the Swamp after witnessing it this fall.

“I feel like the game day atmosphere is super unique, especially coming from that Tennessee game. I feel like the crowd was rocking, I don’t think there’s many college places like that that I’ve seen,” McCray added.