5-star defensive lineman LJ McCray previews final official visit to Florida State
DAYTONA BEACH — The recruitment of five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray is heating up as he closes in on the potential end of his process with two more big visits — including an official visit to Florida State next weekend.
McCray has already taken four official visits to Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Miami.
The Florida State Seminoles will get what looks like the last crack at McCray on the weekend of Oct. 7, and that’s somewhat fitting since FSU also was the school credited with recruiting him the longest.
“I’ve been there plenty of times, but I haven’t been to have an in-depth visit like this,” McCray told Warchant on Thursday.
McCray has liked Florida State for a long time, but the Seminoles’ impressive performance on the field so far in 2023 — a 4-0 record with wins over Clemson and LSU — has certainly captured his attention. He especially likes what the Seminoles’ defensive line is doing under assistant coaches Odell Haggins and John Papuchis.
“I think they have a lot of special guys, but of course the job by Coach Odell and Coach JP has been tremendous and they have been coaching their tails off,” McCray said. “You see it with the defensive line. They’ve been doing their thing.
“I would say the difference of the team is they are playing together [and] are close. They got some dudes on that defensive line, and I can see myself anywhere on the defensive line at FSU. They are definitely a fun defense to watch.”
At 6-foot-6 and 271 pounds, McCray seems to be trending toward playing inside at defensive tackle, but he says Florida State likes him as both a defensive end and defensive tackle. The five-star standout says Papuchis is his main recruiter, but that Haggins is also very involved.
“I talk with both of them,” McCray said. “With Coach JP, it really started early when I went to a camp there and they were one of the first to get on me. The way he coached me and showed me things and coached me on the fly, quickly, pretty good coach. It meant a lot to me they were one of the first to see me and they wanted the last OV (official visit). So the early interest meant a lot to me.”
McCray hasn’t visited Florida State since the spring, but he has been on campus numerous times throughout the process. And he said his lack of visits in recent months is not a sign that the Seminoles are slipping in his recruitment.
“No. FSU definitely has a special place in my heart,” McCray told Warchant. “I’ve been there a lot, so I’m comfortable with everybody. When I’m around the FSU staff, I feel I have a great relationship with Coach JP and especially Coach Odell. He feels like an uncle where you don’t feel like you need to talk about football. Then Coach [Mike] Norvell, I feel I can talk with him anytime. Super energetic. With Coach JP, we talk about everything.”
As he prepares for his Florida State official visit on Oct. 7, as the Seminoles host Virginia Tech, McCray said he has one particular thing he wants to see.
“Getting up there and seeing everybody, especially the players. Every time I’ve been there, I’m with the coaches, so I want to spend a lot of time around the players and get a feel about them,” McCray said. “Just be around them and see what type of guys they are in the locker room and just see what’s going on.”
This will be the second time McCray has watched Florida State in person this season, and the first one for the LSU game in Orlando certainly made a big impression.
“It was crazy,” McCray said.
Norvell is expected to attend McCray’s game tonight in person as McCray’s Mainland Buccaneers, who are 5-0, take on Pine Ridge.
So what does the defensive lineman like about Florida State’s head coach?
“He’s different than anyone else,” McCray said. “The energy, vibe he brings and how genuine he is.”
The five-star prospect also discussed what he likes about his five finalists.
“I feel all the teams in my top five are doing good on the field, and you want a good product,” McCray said. “But at the same time, I’m watching what guys are developing and how they can develop me. For me, it’s all about the energy on the visits when I look at each school.”
Before the trip to Florida State, though, McCray is going to take another unofficial visit to Auburn this weekend when the Tigers host No. 1-ranked Georgia. This is his third visit to Auburn, according to McCray, and he discussed what he’s looking for on that trip.
“I would say just spending more time with Coach Garrett (AU defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett) and getting comfortable with him and seeing how I feel since my decision is likely going to be sometime in October,” McCray said.
While that commitment could come in October, McCray made it clear that he hasn’t set a date for the decision at this point. He originally mentioned announcing it on his birthday, but he said it likely will be after that.
He said he likely won’t even try to figure out the best fit until after his final visit to FSU.
“Everyday I go back and forth,” McCray said. “In the last seven days, I’ve probably said I want to go to every team in my top five.”
One thing is clear: Florida State is still heavily in the mix.
“Especially after watching them play their tails off against Clemson and the energy and the way the program is going is there,” McCray said. “I like what they are doing.”
On the field this season, McCray leads Mainland with eight sacks.
*ALSO SEE: Michael Langston’s follow-up comments on McCray’s recruitment
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