Cormani McClain, Florida’s 6’4″, 189-pound defensive back from Lakeland, might not be in the headlines lately. But he was a five-star recruit and a high-profile target for every major program, including Billy Napier’s Florida. “We’ve had a great relationship since my sophomore year. We’ve had a great relationship since my sophomore year,” said McClain about Billy Napier. Loyal to the Gators, he even had grown up loving Florida and had a “Florida theme room” in his mom’s house. It was then almost impossible for any other program to convince him to leave the Gators. However, when Deion Sanders called, the offer was too hard to refuse.

“Coach Deion actually called me on Signing Day, 5 a.m. in the morning, asked me do I want to come to Colorado,” said Cormani McClain to ON3. That conversation finally led the player to Boulder for a visit, where he loved the environment. “We chatted up, and I got out there three days later for a visit, and I was like, ‘This is home,” said the cornerback. So, McClain, after sealing his enrollment at Colorado for the 2023 class, went in with high expectations. However, disciplinary issues led to a fallout with the very man who flipped him from Florida: Deion Sanders.

McClain initially started four games as a true freshman and also recorded seventeen tackles in a total of 9 appearances. His regression to mop up duties later in the season owed largely to some disciplinary issues ranging from coming late in meetings to lack of focus, according to Coach Prime. “Show up to the darned meetings,” said Colorado head coach publicly, and within months, McClain transfer-listed himself, hoping to find a new team. Looking back now, McClain accepts his wrongdoing and tardiness.

“I didn’t have enough knowledge. I was just a young player coming in. I just had to adjust,” said McClain. But despite the falling out with Coach Prime, McClain hasn’t been harsh on Deion Sanders and said, “There’s no bad blood.” Coach Prime, on the other hand, appealed to God in an interview regarding McClain when he entered the portal. “I pray to God that he goes to a program that challenges him, as well as holds him accountable and develops him as a young man. Unfortunately, we weren’t the program that could accomplish that.” The contentious saga, however, ended, and McClain had to find a new team, which became a herculean task that the CB hadn’t imagined.

Cormani McClain’s offers after entering the transfer portal became very limited, starkly opposite to what he had in high school. The CB touted his recruiting process out of the portal as “slow,” and no blueblood programs wanted McClain after a weak showing by Colorado and McClain himself in the 2023 season. However, at that crucial juncture of Cormani’s career, the same head coach decided to give the guy a chance, whom the player had rejected from joining Deion Sanders’ camp. Except this time, nothing was to be given on a platter.

Cormani McClain rises against all odds to become an SEC starter

Florida in the 2023 season under Billy Napier was utterly disappointing, with the team finishing with just 5 wins. That was also the season where the Gators’ defense was 71st nationally, allowing 382.2 yards per game. Something needed to change, and while Billy Napier brought in 13 transfers that year. He trusted Cormani McClain due to his past connections and deep relationship to bring him on the roster. Contrastingly, this time the CB came as a walk-on and needed to prove himself to earn a scholarship.

“Coach Nape was the first person to call me during my recruitment after I transferred. He actually told me you’re going to have to actually work for something here. And I was down for it. I told him, ‘I’m ready to work, Coach.’ Let’s do it,” said McClain to On3 Sports. As for McClain’s tardiness, it actually didn’t improve even at Florida initially. Owing to McClain’s infractions, the entire defense and secondary had to run at 6 AM multiple times as per Billy Napier’s strict rules. The situation became so worrisome that letting McClain off the team was being considered as an option. However, after his last strike, McClain never gave cause for complaint.

“To see him come from that situation, where there wasn’t a whole lot of structure, he just needed somebody to push him and have teammates be there for him. He’s one of the few players I’m very, very close with. I’m very, very close with Cormani,” said edge rusher Tyrak Sapp about McClain bouncing back. Ever since then, McClain hasn’t looked back. He earned his UF scholarship this offseason and has played in 3 games so far, recording 6 tackles. Moreover, after news about starting cornerback Dijon Johnson being out after an injury, and isn’t expected to return anytime soon. We should see McClain as a starter for the near future, sealing his place on the team.