Miami football trailing with 5-star DL LJ McCray Oct 21 commitment set

The Miami football program is trending behind Florida, Georgia and Florida State with an October 21 commitment date set for five-star defensive lineman L.J. McCray. McCray is the 119th prospect, 18th DL and 18th player in Florida in the 2024 class according to the 247 Sports composite rankings.

Florida is projected with a 37.4 percent chance for a commitment from McCray per the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine Georgia is at 24.1 percent, Florida State at 14.8 percent and the Miami football program at 11.1 percent. The four previously mentioned programs plus Auburn have received official visits from McCray.

McCray took official visits to Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Miami football programs in June and to Florida State last weekend. Miami has been focusing on the DL in the 2024 Class. Miami is a finalist for five-star DL Aydin Breland whose commitment announcement is at 2:30 PM ET on Saturday on the 247 Sports YouTube channel.

Four-star DL prospects Artavius Jones, Marquis Lightfoot and Elias Rudolph and three-star Daylen Russell have previously committed to Miami in the 2024 class. A commitment from McCray would move the 2024 Miami Class past LSU and Tennessee into ninth nationally. Miami is building an elite 2024 DL class.

Hayes Fawcett of On3 interviewed McCray to discuss what Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Miami each offer. Miami DL coaches Joe Salave’a and Jason Taylor have continually been mentioned when prospects are mentioned upfront on the Hurricanes’ defense. McCray mentioned both to Fawcett.

"“Miami Hurricanes– Since I was born in South Florida and my dad was a coach for Bethune Cookman, I grew up watching the Canes play so it’s a unique experience to now be recruited by them. Coach Cristobal, Coach Jason Taylor, and Coach Joe Salave’a have also done a great job of staying consistent in my recruiting process and being down there.I love the tropical feeling and the city of Miami. It would also be a great opportunity to be coached by a Hall of Famer in Coach Tayler (Sic) and with Coach Salave’a playing years in the NFL. The coaching room has a first-hand experience of doing it at the highest level.Coach Cristobal is a proven program changer and has impacted every school he has been to. With the last Miami recruiting class, the program is definitely on the rise.”"

Miami will have several DL to replace after the 2023 season. That likely includes junior DL Leonard Taylor who is projected as a 2024 NFL first-round pick. The 6-6, 275-pound Daytona Beach, Mainland prospect would have a chance to compete for a spot in the 2024 Miami rotation.

McCray would be the sixth-highest-ranked prospect in the 2020 Miami class and third-ranked on defense. Edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot and safety Zaquan Patterson are the only prospects committed to Miami ranked higher than McCray. Taylor is currently the 27th-ranked recruiter in the ACC.