Gators signee LJ McCray finishes as On3's No. 1 defensive lineman
On3 is currently releasing its final 5-star prospects ahead of Monday’s 2024 On300 rankings release.
Moments ago, Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland defensive lineman LJ McCray was the latest to receive that honor, checking in at No. 6 overall. That is down three spots from the previous update, but with such a deep class and multiple All-American games played, that is not a significant drop.
The Florida signee, who stands 6-foot-6, 280 pounds, is a state champion who racked up 77 tackles (48 solo), 37 tackles for loss and 13 sacks as a senior. He also recorded three forced fumbles, two pass deflections and one fumble recovery.
During the Early Signing period, the Gators managed to hold off numerous schools for McCray’s signature. Those included Auburn and Florida State.
UF landed McCray’s commitment in October, but additional visits took place and Gators had every right to be concerned. Unfortunately for those schools, however, it was not enough and the group of Billy Napier, defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong and outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson prevailed.
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Expectations are sky high for McCray
Charles Power, On3’s Director of Scouting and Rankings, expects McCray to make an immediate impact for Billy Napier‘s program.
“Few prospects had a better senior season than McCray. The 6-foot-6, 280-pounder made a leap as a player this fall, turning in a dominant season while leading his Daytona (Fla.) Mainland team to a state title,” Power said in December.
“McCray’s senior film is among the best we’ve seen from a defensive prospect this cycle. His ability to disrupt as a pass rusher and run defender makes him a versatile, dangerous player on the front. The combination of length, athleticism, physicality and effort stand out and point to an immediate impact at the college level.
“He has a high upside due to the projectable traits, but make no mistake, the top-10 prospect is ready to come in and make an early impact.”
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
