Watch: LJ McCray on Answering Gerald Chatman's Challenge With Career Day at Texas
Florida defensive end LJ McCray discussed his exchange with D-line coach Gerald Chatman after a career-best game in the Gators' 27-24 win at No. 7 Texas.
During UF’s homecoming loss, LJ McCray was challenged by Gerald Chatman.
— Zach Abolverdi (@ZachAbolverdi) October 17, 2026
McCray responded in a big way Saturday with his best game as a Gator.
He discusses his exchange with Chatman and career best performance.
“It meant a lot to me,” he said.
STORY: https://t.co/X1yR34LQBL pic.twitter.com/n6vLNSrG99
Video: LJ McCray postgame interview via Zach Abolverdi of Gators Online.
Florida defensive end LJ McCray had a career-best performance in the Gators' 27-24 upset of No. 7 Texas on Saturday, per Gators Online, and in a postgame video he talked about the challenge that came before it. (As of 6:34 PM ET.)
According to Abolverdi, McCray was challenged by defensive line coach Gerald Chatman during Florida's homecoming loss, a 38-19 defeat to South Carolina on Oct. 10. Abolverdi wrote that McCray "responded in a big way Saturday with his best game as a Gator" and that, in the 40-second clip, he discusses his exchange with Chatman and his career-best performance.
"It meant a lot to me," McCray said, per Abolverdi.
Abolverdi's full story is at Gators Online.
Florida's defense came up big in Austin. After taking a 17-3 lead in the second quarter, Texas didn't score again until a touchdown with 4:21 left, and Florida sacked Arch Manning five times, per ESPN's game data. The Gators (5-2, 3-2 SEC) are off next week before facing Georgia on Oct. 31.
More: Gators Stun No. 7 Texas in Austin Behind Backup QB Tramell Jones Jr. · Game Day hub
Sources: Zach Abolverdi (video), Gators Online, ESPN game data.
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