Since joining the Florida Gators, Cormani McClain has not had the best of time with his new team. The former five-star recruit, who transferred to the University of Florida in May 2024 from Colorado Buffaloes, has had his fair share of adversity ranging from injuries to criticism regarding his conduct. 

Cormani McClain’s mother, Kaishay, has long been a pillar of support for her son, but her silence following his recent snub by the Gators raised eyebrows. While McClain faced criticism and setbacks, her decision to stay quiet was interpreted by many as a sign of tension between the family and the Florida Gators. However, with the recent amends made by the team, she has now broken her silence, expressing cautious optimism and reaffirming her support for McClain in a tweet on X.

In a video posted by Kaishay on X on September 10, Cormani McClain is seen attending an early screening of the movie The Killer’s Game. In the casual wear of a yellow hoodie and appearing to be in high spirits, McClain went into Regal Cinemas, bought some popcorn, and watched the movie before it premiered. Kaishay’s caption read, “Thank you, Lionsgate and Disruptive Sports for the hookup!”

The former Colorado Buffs player seemed happy in the video posted by Kaishay. This is in stark contrast to recent headlines about McClain, which focused on his alleged indiscipline and off-the-field stuff. The cornerback did not have a pleasant time with ‘Prime Time’ last year. His move to the Gators was seen as a fresh start after a rocky patch with the Buffs. However, his story at the Gators did not begin as he may have hoped.

A rocky start for Cormani McClain at Florida

Florida Gators HC Billy Napier had demoted Cormani McClain from the team’s two-deep depth chart in July because of injuries and alleged misbehavior. As per media reports, McClain had been skipping team meetings and practices. Florida football scouting by GatorsOnline and On3’s Nick de la Torre explained, “I was told that Cormani McClain has been late to most of the requirements… handled like a strike system.”

Even in 2023, Coach Prime had criticized McClain’s performance, mentioning that the cornerback should work on himself. However, Coach Napier did not follow Prime’s example. Instead, the Florida Gators have worked to mend fences with Cormani McClain by ramping up support and resources to help him adapt better to the team. They’ve also publicly acknowledged his potential and provided opportunities for him to prove himself and reclaim his spot on the roster. Let’s hope the team helps their cornerback to reach his full potential!