LJ McCray is grateful to be back on the field following an injury-marred sophomore season. ... (Photo: UAA Communications)
LJ McCray is Ready for His Return
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | Football
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By: Ryan Roddy, FloridaGators.com Student Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A year ago, LJ McCray finally got back on the field after missing most of preseason camp and UF's season opener with a knee injury.
Four plays later, he was done again, suffering a season-ending injury in the home loss to USF.
"It definitely hurt me a lot," said McCray, a 6-foot-6, 277-pound defensive lineman. "I mean, no one wants that ever to happen, and I put my head down to work to get back, and then for that to happen, four plays in, hurt me a lot."
LJ McCray on the field during Florida's first scrimmage of preseason camp on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Photo: Ethan Roy/UAA Communications)
Instead of sulking and letting the injury beat him down, McCray took an optimistic outlook. To him, the physical wound led to a mental gain.
"I think it might have been needed for my development," McCray said. "To even be mature, to get to this point and understand how much football really means to me. I think that was my first time ever missing a season of football, so it opened my eyes a lot. I had to grow up and mature and realize how bad I really wanted it."
Buoyed by the introspective mindset, the Daytona Beach native and former All-State selection at Mainland High is gearing up for his third-year sophomore season, looking to make a real impact for the Orange & Blue.
In the first offseason of the Jon Sumrall era, specifically through strength and conditioning coach Rusty Whitt's program, McCray is feeling better than ever.
"I definitely feel way different, way stronger, more sturdy, more agile,'' McCray said. "I think they're doing a great job with it."
The transformation hasn't gone unnoticed. McCray and fellow defensive lineman Jayden Woods were the only Gators named to The Athletic's "Freaks List," which recognizes some of the nation's most physically gifted players.
McCray put on more muscle since he was injured, but it hasn't hurt his movement; it has surprisingly improved it.
"Yeah, LJ is up 21 pounds of lean mass," director of football nutrition Jake Sankal said. "So, that's a different guy."
"Isn't it wild how a guy can gain that much lean mass and get faster? That's just the way it works," Whitt said.
Sumrall has kept close tabs on McCray, who has the potential to be a disruptor on the defensive line. When he took over the program, some names on the roster jumped out more than others.
He was familiar with McCray, who as a freshman in 2024 recorded 13 tackles and played a career-high 33 snaps in Florida's win over Sumrall's Tulane team in the Gasparilla Bowl.
"I know enough about his recruitment here," Sumrall said. "But just knowing him since January, we challenged him right out of the gate. He's got great length, the body type. You look at just the frame and a very impressive individual. He has committed himself to the weight room and to his nutrition plan, and he's living just better away from the building in regards to sleeping and recovery and certain things it takes to grow and develop."
The new-and-improved McCray began turning heads once he moved past the knee injury and could run full speed.
Brendan Bett, one of McCray's teammates on the UF defensive line, sees a special talent in the No. 11 jersey.
"That kid can go. That's why we call him All-Gas McCray,'' Bett said. "Like the kid runs 20 miles per hour at 270. That's crazy. And I definitely believe he fell under the radar a little bit. He came out of high school as a five-star, played his freshman year, got hurt, and now people aren't really talking about him anymore.
"I tell him all the time, 'I'm more excited to see you play than I am myself.' I know what he's going to do this upcoming season."
After last season's collapse, speculation bubbled that McCray might transfer for a fresh start as the program went through a period of uncertainty. He stayed and, in his view, is where he belongs, calling UF his "dream school."
With all the progress and recovery in the offseason, it is clear that McCray has his sights set on the field.
"He plays like he's believing what he can become," Sumrall said. "It's exciting to see it come to life for him. The lights have come on for sure, and excited to see him continue."
McCray can play multiple positions, contributing heavily to a Florida defensive line that is returning multiple players. He can play the edge or move inside. He has the height and wingspan to disrupt the passing game at the line of scrimmage.
More than anything, McCray wants to play.
"I think the defense definitely puts me in a great position to make a lot of big plays," he said.
When Florida hosts FAU to kick off its season, it'll have been 364 days since McCray was injured after four snaps against USF.
It's been a long, sometimes frustrating yet insightful journey for McCray, but when the lights turn on and he gets back out there, the delayed gratification may be worth it when he runs out of the tunnel on Sept. 5 onto Spurrier-Florida Field.
"I've had a lot of time to watch others do it and sit there and dream of that moment," McCray said. "Again, it goes back to this being one of my dream schools. So, just getting out there and redeeming myself. The last time I did it, it wasn't to my standard. So, just being able to get another opportunity to do that."
