2023: Played in all 12 games and made seven starts on the defensive line… Had two tackles in the season opener at Southern Illinois (Sept. 2)… Posted a sack for a loss of seven yards against Tennessee (Sept. 9)… Added two tackles and a sack against ETSU (Sept. 16)… Totaled two tackles and a pass breakup at Lindenwood (Sept. 30)… Tallied two tackles and half a sack against Gardner-Webb (Oct. 14)… Had two tackles and half a tackle for loss at Southern Utah (Oct. 21)… Recorded two tackles for loss, including a sack for an eight-yard loss, in addition to a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 4)… Matched his career high in back-to-back weeks with four tackles against both Utah Tech (Nov. 11) and Central Arkansas (Nov. 18)… Finished the season with 24 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries, and three pass breakups… Ranked 14th in the UAC and second on the team in sacks… Also was tied for fourth on the team in tackles for loss.
2022: Played in the first seven games of the season on the defensive line… Recorded a season-best four tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a quarterback hurry against Presbyterian (Sept. 3)… Made three tackles against Mississippi Valley State (Sept. 10)… Had a tackle and half a tackle for loss against Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 24)… Added another tackle for loss against Central Arkansas (Oct. 1)… Finished the season with 11 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three quarterback hurries.
Prior to Austin Peay: Transferred from East Carolina after spending two seasons in Greeneville, North Carolina... Appeared in four games for the Pirates in 2021, recording his lone tackle of the season against South Carolina (Sept. 11)... Redshirted his freshman season in 2020.
High School: Prepped at West Brunswick under head coach Brett Hickman... A three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and ESPN.com... Recorded 51 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and recovered three fumbles during his senior season... Was named the Coastal Preps 2019 Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Trojans to 10 wins and anchoring a defense that allowed just 99 points in 12 games... Was selected to represent North Carolina at the 2019 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas played at Wofford College... Also lettered in basketball, averaging 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game during his junior season.
Personal: J’Vian Taliq McCray is the son of Marcus and Crystal McCray... Birthday is July 26...Has four siblings: Tajah, Nyajah, Jaylen, and Cadijah... A general studies major with a survey of humanities concentration.
