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Florida Gators dealt another major blow after loss to South Florida that will impact their chances moving forward

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Tyler Forness | Last updated Sep 8, 2025 2:59 PM ET

It wasn't just a major loss for the Florida Gators on the scoreboard against the South Florida Bulls, they also had a serious injury that could keep them from reaching their full potential.

Edge rusher LJ McCray injured his foot and will undergo surgery to fix it, according to 247 Sports. It's a tough blow for the Gators, who were set to have a dynamic rotation at edge rusher.

BREAKING: Florida sophomore EDGE LJ McCray will undergo surgery for a right foot injury, @Swamp_247 has learned.

READ: https://t.co/jaflsyVOKy pic.twitter.com/MREMbmprDB
— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall) September 8, 2025

Gators EDGE LJ McCray to have surgery

Hall also mentions that the timeline for McCray's return is unknown, as is what the specific injury is. Head coach Billy Napier gave some clarification on McCray, stating that he broke his foot.

Billy Napier said sophomore edge LJ McCray broke his foot and will undergo surgery.
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) September 8, 2025

This is a really tough one for the Gators, as McCray will now miss multiple weeks after missing the majority of fall camp. During the game, McCray got in on just four snaps, which is a brutal way for things to go for him.

McCray was a five-star recruit in the 2024 recruiting class who was expected to take a step forward this year. He played a little bit during his first season, getting on the field for 181 snaps. In those, he got seven pressures on the quarterback with 1.0 sack.

The Gators still have Tyreak Sapp and George Gumbs Jr. on the edge, but their depth is going to be hindered until he potentially returns this season.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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