As a former five-star recruit and the No. 1 cornerback in the 2023 class, his arrival at Colorado Buffaloes under Deion Sanders was supposed to be a match made in football heaven. But instead of thriving under the bright lights of Boulder, Cormani McClain found himself caught in the storm—his work ethic questioned, his playing time limited, and his name constantly making headlines for all the wrong reasons. So, when he hit the transfer portal and chose Florida as a walk-on—before getting that scholarship in January—he got his fresh start. He got his mojo back, and, maybe most importantly, a chance to ditch that ‘Sanders family feud’ drama, you know, like something straight out of a Steve Harvey show.

Now settled in the Swamp, Cormani McClain has been quietly grinding away from Deion Sanders. With CFB at halt amidst all the Combine buzz and upcoming NFL Draft, headlined by the Sanders family, we are close to spring games. And for that, on campus for pre-spring sessions, the 6’2″ lockdown artist gave a glimpse of Billy Napier’s locker room mantra courtesy of his Instagram story. He snapped a shot of a film room TV screen displaying the words: “Growth and comfort do not coexist.” A simple but powerful mantra, one that speaks volumes about Florida’s identity under Napier and perhaps reflects McClain’s own journey—one that has been anything but comfortable.

Though his lone season with the Gators saw limited action—just 111 snaps—he still managed to make his mark, most notably with a late-game pick-six against Kentucky in Week 8. But what’s just as telling as his on-field flashes is his off-field mindset. McClain’s social media activity didn’t stop there. In a move that raised more than a few eyebrows, he recently posted a carousel featuring a mix of laid-back getaways and intense on-field grind sessions. The caption? “Gaig.”

But what really turned heads was the choice of soundtrack—Deion Sanders Jr.’s song “YSL Wallet” playing in the background. Given the very public friction between McClain and the Sanders family following his departure from Colorado, this wasn’t just a casual song choice. It felt like an olive branch, a subtle nod that maybe, just maybe, the feud had cooled. Or at the very least, a signal that McClain had moved past it.

It wasn’t long ago that McClain’s split from Boulder felt far from amicable. Entering the transfer portal in 2024, he didn’t just walk away—he made sure to throw a parting shot at Coach Prime on his way out. “I just don’t want to play for clicks. I actually want to be involved with a great leading program,” he said—a clear dig at the media circus that constantly surrounds Deion and his team. Karma backfired. Instead of being seen as a mature move, some teams viewed it as unnecessary drama, painting McClain as a player who struggled with handling adversity.

Now, with a fresh start at Florida, McClain seems to be finding his way. The noise has quieted, the focus has shifted, and his actions speak louder than any headlines ever could. The use of a Sanders Jr.’s track might not be a grand reconciliation, but it does suggest that whatever bitterness once lingered has softened.

Leaving the Sanders feud behind, Cormani McClain is flying in Florida—literally

With the drama that surrounded Cormani McClain at Colorado now firmly in the rearview mirror, the former 5-star recruit is making waves for all the right reasons at Florida. Last month, a picture of him grinding in the gym had fans buzzing. And this week? There’s even more reason for excitement.

On a recent episode of “Stadium and Gale,” Nick de la Torre dropped a major update: McClain just joined the 23 MPH club—a milestone that signals his top-end speed is only getting better. “Cormani just this week joined the 23 Mile an hour club,” de la Torre shared. “So the boy is skating. Running.” That’s blazing-fast territory, the kind of speed that NFL scouts drool over. And it’s not just his athleticism that’s improving—his mindset has taken a leap, too.

Back in January, head coach Billy Napier praised McClain’s progress. “Critical semester for him, just in terms of now he gets to start over. He understands expectations from not just me, but from his teammates,” Napier told Swamp247. “I’m proud of him, because I think he stayed the course.” With a fresh start and elite-level speed, McClain looks ready to take off—literally and figuratively.