Across the past six months, the Colorado football team, much like the first offseason with head coach Deion Sanders in 2023, underwent a massive roster overhaul via the transfer portal. According to 247Sports, Colorado lost 41 players to the portal post-2023 season, headlined by former five-star corner prospect Cormani McClain. Colorado has added 42 players from the portal, but McClain’s departure signified a loss of the top corner prospect in the class of 2023. The Lakeland, Florida native has since transferred to the Florida Gators, with initial reports suggesting he has struggled to adapt to his new home.
McClain’s departure from the Buffaloes was well publicized, with the then-freshman criticizing Sanders and the culture in Boulder, Colorado. However, conflicting reports suggested that McClain, not Colorado, was responsible for his lack of growth during his inaugural college football season.
Former Colorado Football CB Cormani McClain: Struggling to Adapt Within SEC
Cormani McClain, formerly of Colorado football and now with the Florida Gators, is off to a rough start with his newest school despite the 2024 season still months away. According to multiple reports, including Florida football subreddits, well-respected Instagram accounts, and 247Sports’ Jacob Rudner, McClain has missed mandatory team meetings and workouts.
🤨🤨🤨 pic.twitter.com/KUOLMFOtaH
— Elite Recruiter (@SkobuffRecruits) July 15, 2024
Florida football operates on a strike system, with each further infraction resulting in a harsher penalty. However, McClain has allegedly missed mandatory requirements, making the entire defense partake in an extra lift. McClain made headlines post-transfer this offseason after entering a Twitter Spaces discussion. When asked to rate the depth of his departure on a scale of 1-10, the corner replied, “It was an 11. It ain’t on my end; it’s on their end.” He also liked a Tweet calling Colorado football a “circus.”
Head coach Deion Sanders responded to the McClain transfer news and the headlines surrounding his departure, telling Colorado media outlet DNVR Buffs, “I pray to God that he goes to a program that challenges him, holds him accountable, and develops him as a young man. Unfortunately, we weren’t the program that could accomplish that. So, prayerfully, he understands this is his second go-round and gets it. Go get it, man. He has tremendous talent, but he has to want it.”
Colorado: Backend of Defense Sans Cormani McClain
Even if Colorado football held onto Cormani McClain for the 2024 season, he would remain a liability on Saturdays. All-American corner Travis Hunter returns to Colorado next season, while Oklahoma State transfer D.J. McKinney should operate at the other starting corner position. McKinney enters his third season at the FBS level after registering 38 tackles and five passes defended last year.
Meanwhile, Colorado added Liberty Flames transfer Preston Hodge and Herman Smith III, formerly of Idaho State. Hodge shined for the 13-1 Flames last year, recording 48 tackles, eight passes defended, two interceptions, and a touchdown. Smith played for Deion Sanders at Jackson State two seasons ago. He can play corner and safety and has collected 30 tackles, two passes defended, and an interception in 13 games spanning two seasons.
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3 Comments
These young Thundercats need to learn to listen to someone who has already been there done that. # he should have stayed at Colorado’s with coach Deion Sanders is
This story is funny. It was as if the writer was afraid to hit the nail on the head, tiptoeing around what needed to be stated. Cormani’s lack of discipline and failure to listen to his coaches and do what is needed was his problem at Colorado, and it has confirmed what Coach Prime said about his lack of playing time there. Period! Rehashing who has been drafted by Colorado and all that in the story was completely unnecessary. The sole focus should have been the misbehavior of Cormani and the lessons other young players should, and can learn from his struggles!
You’re right, but with the story so fresh and McClain denying he is in the dog house it’s tough to crucify a kid without all the facts. Time will tell if McClain can play at the next level. It’s a full time job.