Florida Football’s McCray Named SEC Defensive Lineman of Week

Florida football’s LJ McCray was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week following his contributions to the Gators’ win at then-No. 7 Texas. 

McCray led Florida (5-2, 3-2 SEC) in sacks, bringing Texas quarterback Arch Manning down 1.5 times for a loss of 10 yards. Manning was sacked five times total by the Gators’ defense. 

McCray has 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and 12 tackles total this season.  

It just may be the start of the Florida junior’s stardom. In his first year, he recorded 13 total tackles, but only three of them were solo tackles. After playing all of four snaps last season due to a foot injury, McCray returned this year and has tripled that number with nine solo tackles. 

The Gators’ defensive unit only allowed Texas 272 total yards and 13 first downs. Florida’s defense is ranked 13th in the SEC out of 16 teams in average points allowed per conference game with 34.8. 

Following South Carolina’s conquest of Florida on Oct. 10, the Gamecocks scored 38 points and had 393 total yards. 

UF coach Jon Sumrall credited the defense’s improvement to the players’ approach Saturday in Austin. 

“We didn’t have a whole lot of brand new fancy calls today,” Sumrall said. “You know what our guys did? They executed them with more detail, more urgency, more violence, more strain.”

McCray was no exception to the defense’s aggression. After two consecutive losses, McCray felt it was time to make a statement in Texas.

“Another week, another opportunity to showcase what I could do,” McCray said. “The last two weeks I was kind of quiet, so just getting back to the drawing board and taking advantage of the opportunities this week.”

McCray’s performance helped the Gators bring home their first road win against a top-10 team since 2012.

No. 20 Florida has an open week before traveling to Atlanta for its 105th matchup against the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1). 

Category: College Football, Football, Gators Football, SEC