What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear Florida Gators’ cornerback Cormani McClain’s name? The one who thought of locking horns with Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes before moving out. “I’m just ready to bring the old version of me out and change the narrative of everyone’s thinking on my name. Be a part of a real and great program,” said McClain while cutting ties with the Buffs. Was that a problem to leave a program in search of a “real” program? Not at all. But what turned McClain into a laughing stock was that even in Billy Napier’s Florida, he failed to get a breakthrough. But finally, the day came when he had the spotlights only on himself, and for a change, not for something controversial.  

The first year in Napier’s camp was like a nightmare that McClain might want to erase from his memory. Things went south for the cornerback, so much so that he ended up earning the “locker room cancer” tag. The reason? McClain always appeared late for practices. As Nick de la Torre wrote, “You’re not going to be liked in the locker room if your tardiness/immaturity is causing the rest of your team to have to run…Just immature. Needs to grow up.” But look how his fate turned. And his coach and teammates could not stop heaping praise on McClain.  

The redshirt sophomore made his first start of the season and second as a Gator. Though McClain earned the start ahead of Dijon Johnson, the two split the load evenly, each playing 40 snaps against the LSU Tigers. But maybe McClain’s glowup is what has been the talk of the town in the Gainesville camp. On September 19, Zach Abolverdi tweeted, “Florida cornerback Cormani McClain earns his first start in 2025 with strong play.” Napier approves of McClain’s new attitude. “I’m proud of Cormani. He started in the game, he had a good week of practice,” said the head coach. 

He continued, “Cormani had some discipline issues when he first got here, and those have faded away. He’s still growing and maturing. There’s a high ceiling there. But the main thing is his attitude is where it needs to be, and he’s got the right mindset. So, I’m proud of him. He’s talking a lot more, he’s communicating better. He’s presenting himself well, and I think he’s been a good teammate.”

So, in a way, McClain had a rebirth in the Gators camp. He clearly has the tools to thrive in the SEC, yet lingering concerns beyond talent have kept him from breaking through. McClain made his presence felt at LSU with two standout stops. First, stuffing a third-and-2 to force a punt after Caleb Banks went down, then sprinting 50 yards to track down Caden Durham and prevent a sure touchdown. And what about the accusations brought against him in his first year? McClain got rid of them all. 

As Florida safety Jordan Castell said, “He is more focused. A guy who shows up to practice, works hard, shows up early now. He’s locked in. No more 6 a.m. (runs). He’s here.” Not just in the Gainesville camp. Even in his personal life, McClain now moves with a purpose. 

How Cormani McClain Captured Hearts Beyond the Field

Last season, he got the chance to play only two games. One against Georgia, where he came up with 4 tackles, and one against Kentucky, where he could only come up with one tackle. Along with questioning his playing scheme, McClain received criticism for being too small. That’s what might have fueled his urge to bulk himself up.

On August 19, LockedOnBuffs tweeted, “Cormani McClain seems to have figured things out at Florida. Went from being listed as 165 pounds at Colorado to 189 pounds at Florida.” Last off-season, McClain had put on 20 pounds and had hit a top speed of 23 mph. And his mother, Kaishay, who has been through thick and thin, being his spokesperson during the Colorado hoopla, couldn’t be prouder. Resharing the glimpses of her son’s physical transformation, Kaishay wrote, “Proud of you son ♥️.”

McClain did not just think about himself. The Florida cornerback showed up for a good cause. Since he had yet to prove himself in the Gainesville camp, Napier did not send him to the SEC Media Days. The lucky ones who made the cut were two seniors and one sophomore- quarterback DJ Lagway, center Jake Slaughter, and defensive lineman Banks. But McClain did not let the snub bother him. After all, he had a bigger purpose. The cornerback took part in an event organized by The Education Foundation.

He wrote on his IG story, “Showing up at summer camp means high-fives, hula hoops, and heart. Kids at Wiles Elementary had a blast, and so did we. Ready to jump in?” The mission of the event? The website of the organization mentions, “Investing in our students for future success for 38 years. Supporting teachers through grants and professional development. Supporting students through Senior Scholarships, and Take Stock In Children mentoring program.” First came the off-field love, now comes the on-field proof. McClain is ready to own both.