Final Pitch from a Pair of Florida Commits to DL LJ McCray

Myles Graham, a 2024 Florida commit, and Kendall Jackson, a 2024 Florida commit, discussed their recruiting efforts and the implications of LJ McCray’s possible promise for the class with All Gators.

Florida’s Gainsville — Two Florida Gators defensive commits are making their final pitches to consensus five-star recruit LJ McCray, a lineman for Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland, ahead of his announcement of his college commitment on Saturday.

Following their commanding 44-7 victory over Jacksonville (Fla.) Bartram Trail, Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz teammates and Florida pledges for the class of 2024, Kendall Jackson and Myles Graham, discussed their most recent recruiting attempts to lure McCray to UF with All Gators.

Graham remarked, “I’ve been blowing up his phone.” “The other guys on defense have been, too.”

McCray, who On3 and 247 Sports rank as one of the country’s top-10 players, will have to decide between the Gators, Florida State, Georgia, Auburn, and Miami.

 

The in-state defensive lineman has long been seen by Billy Napier and his staff as a key target for Florida’s 2024 recruiting class, which is ranked No. 3 in the country by On3 Sports and 247Sports.

The Gators, ranked No. 5 in the SEC, have a top-20 defense in yards per game nationally under first-year defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. The current commits, according to Jackson, have made UF’s defensive progress in comparison to previous seasons a focal element in their McCray pursuit.

We preach, ‘You see what we’re doing,’ to him. “A nation-class defensive unit,” Jackson clarified. “Just giving him the rundown and introducing him to the men he’ll be hanging with. We’re committed to hard effort.”

With a top-20 defense in yards per game nationally under first-year defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, the Gators rank fifth in the SEC. Jackson stated that UF’s recruitment of McCray has been focused on how much their defense has improved from previous seasons because of the current commits.

The Gators, ranked No. 5 in the SEC, have a top-20 defense in yards per game nationally under first-year defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. The current commits, according to Jackson, have made UF’s defensive progress in comparison to previous seasons a focal element in their McCray pursuit.

McCray is a “nasty” player, according toks Jacon, who also said that McCray joining Florida’s recruiting class would be “icing on the cake” and drawing comparisons between him and former Gators defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr.

The current UF edge rusher TJ Searcy even posted “[You know] the move twin,” referencing McCray’s countdown post, on his X account on Thursday, in what appears to be his last attempt at recruitment.

McCray’s commitment would become Florida’s second five-star defensive recruit and third five-star recruit overall. McCray was referred to by Graham as the last member of their defensive class.

It would be completed by [McCray’s pledge]. That’s the component we’re missing, Graham added. “He is canine. genuinely able to step off the brink.”

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