Florida football's third-year defensive lineman LJ McCray was named Comeback Player of the Week following his performance in the Gators' 27-24 upset of Texas in Austin, the College Sports Communicators announced on Tuesday.
Each week, three offensive players and three defensive players are honored.
The Daytona, Florida, native had a career day against the Longhorns in Week 7, recording four tackles (three solo), 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss — all career highs — helping the Gators earn their largest comeback win against a ranked SEC opponent in a true road game.
Near the end of the third quarter, McCray had back-to-back plays where he registered a tackle for loss for two yards and then half a sack for seven yards to stifle a Texas drive; Florida would obtain its first lead of the day at 20-17 on the ensuing drive.
McCray was named to the College Football Comeback Player of the Year preseason watch list after a 2025 season that saw him make only one appearance for the Gators before missing the rest of the year due to injury. Through seven games, McCray has already set career highs in sacks with 2.5 and tackles for loss with 4.5, while making 12 total tackles (nine solo).
Next up, Florida has a bye week before facing Georgia in the annual rivalry game on Saturday, Oct. 31, in Atlanta. ABC will broadcast the matchup starting at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida's LJ McCray named Comeback Player of the Week after Texas win