Five-Star Gator DL Commit LJ McCray Returns To Florida State For Win Over Miami
As the Florida State Seminoles have reached 10 wins for the second consecutive season after a 27-20 win over the Miami Hurricanes, Mike Norvell and his coaching staff are assembling what is the best recruiting class the program has seen in years.
With a total of 16 blue chip prospects (three five-stars, 13 four-star prospects), the incoming freshmen class is filled with talent, and while the pieces to the puzzle are slowly being put together, there are a couple of flip targets FSU has its eyes on, one of them being Florida Gators commit LJ McCray.
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McCray committed to the Seminoles' rival in late October, just weeks after taking his official visit to FSU. While he is currently committed to the Gators, McCray took a visit to Tallahassee this weekend and noted that his relationship with the coaching staff and the school remains largely unchanged.
"Well of course it's a little different, I came and I'm already committed somewhere else, but I feel like the energy was the same, I feel like the energy didn't change over this and that, so it still felt really genuine," McCray said.
While he was in attendance for the rivalry game against Miami, McCray took time to meet with Coach Norvell as well as FSU defensive ends coach John Papuchis.
"It was just kind of about the same things we talked about before outside of just coming in and recruiting me for football," McCray said. "They've been recruiting me for a long time so I kind of know those guys, but the message has definitely been consistent."
The Florida native played coy about the nature of the visit, noting he was mainly in town to be with his high school teammate and four-star defensive back Zavier Mincey. However, it's certainly a development worth monitoring after he pledged to the Gators less than a month ago.
"It went well. I kind of came with Zay [Zavier Mincey], just to tag along with him but I'm definitely glad I came," McCray said. "I feel like I've been here plenty of times so it wasn't anything new."
McCray didn't mention if he would be returning to campus prior to signing in December but it's clear that he remains a possible flip target for Florida State. The Seminoles could further their chances if they defeat the Gators in The Swamp with McCray in attendance later in November.
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound defensive lineman is regarded as the No. 6 overall prospect, the No. 2 DL, and the No. 3 recruit in the state of Florida in the 2024 class according to 247Sports.
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