LJ McCray

A long-limbed defensive lineman with the ingredients needed to bake into a true nuisance up front. Towers over opposing offensive linemen with a frame that’s north of 6-foot-6 and could easily carry 20 more pounds. Sheer size and length led to plenty of scholarship offers early on in the recruiting process, but didn’t really start to find his groove as a pass rusher until his senior year, totaling 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks through eight games. Wins more times than not just with his overall activity level as he stabs and swivels around stagnant opponents. Rather fluid in the hips for someone of his stature and is noticeably limber in the lower half. Might lack polish at this stage, but has gotten more and more active with his hands and could become an absolute chore to handle with improved upper-body strength. Has shown under the lights on Friday nights that he can create pressure from both the inside and outside, and is the type of body that can fit into a variety of different schemes and alignments with his rare features. Must keep progressing after being utilized heavily as a tight end during freshman and sophomore seasons, but should be viewed as one of the top overall prospects in the 2024 cycle given his enormous ceiling. Will likely need a developmental year or two before he’s ready for a full-time starting role, but could be deployed early on in collegiate career as a situational defender. Bonafide NFL upside as his best football looks to be well ahead of him.

More Evaluations

• Evaluated 12/16/2022 Andrew Ivins Director of Scouting Read