L. J. McCray
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1991)}}
{{About|the former American football safety|the college football player|L.J. McCray (defensive lineman)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = L. J. McCray
| image = L. J. McCray.JPG
| caption = McCray with the San Francisco 49ers in 2014
| current_team =
| number = 21, 31
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|6|18}}
| birth_place = Georgetown, South Carolina, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 210
| high_school = Harding University
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
| college = Catawba
| undraftedyear = 2014
| pastteams =
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
- Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2017}})
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2017}}–{{NFL Year|2018}})*
- Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2019}}–{{CFL Year|2021}})
| status =
| cflstatus = American
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 14
| pfr = M/McCrL.00
}}
James Oneil "L. J." McCray II (born June 18, 1991) is a former American football safety. He played college football at Catawba College and attended Harding University High School in Charlotte, North Carolina.{{cite web | url=http://www.ninersnation.com/2014/7/10/5886069/49ers-roster-90-in-90-breakdowns-james-mccray | title=49ers roster, 90-in-90 breakdowns: James McCray | publisher=ninersnation.com | date=July 10, 2014 | access-date=September 8, 2014 | author=Fucillo, David}}
College career
McCray played for the Catawba Indians from 2009 to 2013. He was redshirted in 2011 after sustaining an injury. He was a first-team All-South Atlantic Conference selection in 2012. He recorded 78 tackles, 2 sacks and 8 pass break ups his senior year in 2013.{{cite web | url=http://www.newerascouting.com/2014/05/07/2014-nfl-draft-catawba-college-safety-lj-mccray/ | title=2014 NFL Draft: Catawba College Safety LJ McCray1 | publisher=newerascouting.com | date=May 7, 2014 | access-date=September 8, 2014 | archive-date=September 8, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908230210/http://www.newerascouting.com/2014/05/07/2014-nfl-draft-catawba-college-safety-lj-mccray/ | url-status=dead }}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0
| weight = 210
| dash = 4.52
| ten split = 1.53
| twenty split = 2.57
| shuttle = 4.07
| cone drill = 6.77
| vertical = 36
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 4
| bench = 24
| note = All values from Arizona Pro Day{{cite web|url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=103999&draftyear=2014&genpos=SS |title=L.J. McCray |publisher=nfldraftscout.com |access-date=September 5, 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905223347/http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=103999&draftyear=2014&genpos=SS |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}
}}
=San Francisco 49ers=
McCray was signed by the San Francisco 49ers on May 10, 2014, after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.kffl.com/player/29823/nfl/news/l.j.-mccray |title=L.J. McCray |publisher=kffl.com |access-date=September 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204183916/http://www.kffl.com/player/29823/nfl/news/l.j.-mccray |archive-date=December 4, 2014 }} He made his NFL debut on September 7, 2014, against the Dallas Cowboys.{{cite web | url=http://www.nfl.com/player/l.j.mccray/2550305/gamelogs | title=L.J. McCray | work=nfl.com | access-date=September 8, 2014}}
On September 3, 2016, McCray was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for an undisclosed draft pick,{{cite web|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/football/article/Seahawks-trade-L-J-McCray-49ers-9201983.php |title=Seahawks acquire safety L.J. McCray from 49ers |publisher=seattlepi.com |date=September 3, 2016 |access-date=September 3, 2016 |author=Cohen, Stephen |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903215253/http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/football/article/Seahawks-trade-L-J-McCray-49ers-9201983.php |archive-date=September 3, 2016 }} but failed his physical examination with them, voiding the trade.{{cite web|last1=Barrows|first1=Matt|title=L.J. McCray fails physical in Seattle, is back with 49ers|url=http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article100036112.html|website=The Sacramento Bee|access-date=September 5, 2016}} He was then waived by 49ers on September 5, 2016.{{cite web|title=49ers Claim DT Taylor Hart; Waive S L.J. McCray|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-claim-dt-taylor-hart-waive-s-l-j-mccray-17627506|website=49ers.com|access-date=September 5, 2016}}
=Carolina Panthers=
On January 5, 2017, McCray signed a reserve/future contract with the Carolina Panthers.{{cite web|title=Panthers sign L.J. McCray to future contract|url=http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-sign-LJ-McCray-to-future-contract/cb07fc48-6539-45c4-83f8-5495aba8e28e|author=Henson, Max|website=Panthers.com|date=January 5, 2017|access-date=January 6, 2017|archive-date=January 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105225016/http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-sign-LJ-McCray-to-future-contract/cb07fc48-6539-45c4-83f8-5495aba8e28e|url-status=dead}} He was placed on injured reserve on September 2, 2017.{{cite web|title=Panthers trim roster to 53|url=http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-trim-roster-to-53/04544b8e-4a01-4568-9141-9ed61d2d4c51|author=Henson, Max|website=Panthers.com|date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920201032/https://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-trim-roster-to-53/04544b8e-4a01-4568-9141-9ed61d2d4c51|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=dead}} On September 11, 2017, he was waived with an injury settlement.{{cite web | url=http://www.panthers.com/news/transactions.html | title=Transactions | publisher=panthers.com | access-date=September 11, 2017 | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911213805/http://www.panthers.com/news/transactions.html | archive-date=September 11, 2017 }}
=Buffalo Bills=
On October 17, 2017, McCray was signed to the Buffalo Bills' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Bills sign WR Thompson; RB Banyard released|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-sign-WR-Thompson-RB-Banyard-released/32b6abcd-9a16-4c87-86fb-d2b060e13a5f|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426152702/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-sign-WR-Thompson-RB-Banyard-released/32b6abcd-9a16-4c87-86fb-d2b060e13a5f|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 26, 2018|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=October 17, 2017}} He was released on January 2, 2018.{{cite web|title=Bills add RB Green to practice squad|url=http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2018/01/02/bills-add-rb-green-to-practice-squad/|author=Brown, Chris|website=Blogs.BuffaloBills.com|date=January 2, 2018|access-date=January 3, 2018|archive-date=January 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103030607/http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2018/01/02/bills-add-rb-green-to-practice-squad/|url-status=dead}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Bills on January 10, 2018.{{cite web|title=Bills sign two more reserve/future free agents|url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-sign-two-more-reserve-future-free-agents-20234529|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=January 10, 2018}}
On August 28, 2018, McCray was released by the Bills.{{cite web|title=Bills release reserve safety LJ McCray|url=https://billswire.usatoday.com/2018/08/28/buffalo-bills-lj-mccray/|work=Bills Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=August 28, 2018}}
=Saskatchewan Roughriders=
McCray signed a one-year contract extension with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on January 18, 2021.{{cite news |title=Defensive back L.J. McCray stays in Riderville |url=https://www.riderville.com/2021/01/18/defensive-back-l-j-mccray-stays-riderville/ |website=Riderville.com |date=January 18, 2021 |access-date=February 22, 2021}} He was placed on the suspended list on July 3, 2021.{{cite news |title=Coors Light Training Camp Opening Roster Set |url=https://www.riderville.com/2021/07/03/coors-light-training-camp-opening-roster-set/ |website=Riderville.com |date=July 3, 2021 |access-date=July 7, 2021}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCray, L. J.}}
Category:Players of American football from South Carolina
Category:People from Georgetown, South Carolina
Category:Sportspeople from Georgetown County, South Carolina
Category:American football safeties
Category:Catawba Indians football players
Category:San Francisco 49ers players
Category:Carolina Panthers players
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players
Category:Canadian football defensive backs