Who would’ve thought that when Deion Sanders signed Cormani McClain as the highest-rated signee in his first Colorado recruiting class, McClain would leave a year later? And not just leave… the No.1-ranked cornerback in the Class of 2023 said, “I actually want to be involved with a great leading program that’s going to develop players.” But even before McClain insinuated that Coach Prime’s program isn’t “great,” his mom dealt the first blow.
When Sanders joined Colorado before the 2023 season, the first thing he told the existing Buffs was to enter the transfer portal. He wanted to build a new team from the ground up, one that McClain was set to be a part of. However, there were some discipline issues, alluding to which Sanders said in September 2023, “Study, prepare, be on time for meetings, show up to the darn meetings.” As a result, McClain started only four games, playing in nine. So, when he announced he was entering the transfer portal, his mother, Kaishay, tweeted,
“Gotta be somewhere where [you’re] appreciated and not just tolerated!!! God, take the lead. We right behind ya 💕” What she wrote didn’t just point to how her son didn’t feel seen with the Buffaloes but was also in line with something a former Buff said recently. Xavier Smith claimed Coach Prime didn’t even “get to know him” and that “he was destroying guys’ confidence and belief in themselves.” Amid this mass exodus-like situation in Colorado, coupled with the controversial attacks directed toward Sanders, the question of where Cormani McClain would end up arose.
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Reaction Info: Do you think Coach Prime didn’t appreciate McClain?
Well, Kaishay McClain answered that as well. “Thankful 🙌🏽 to each and every Coach that has reached out and gave him another opportunity! God is good 🫶🏽,” she tweeted after ESPN reporter Adam Rittenberg revealed that Cormani was receiving interest from SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 programs. YouTuber DJ Blessone wasn’t too convinced, though. In a video from May 2, he expressed his apprehension about these claims and focused on how McClain is “taking his time” with the transfer process. But why is the process taking time? Per Blessone, it’s because McClain will take his “baggage” wherever he goes.
By “baggage,” the YouTuber meant Cormani’s “immature attitude, lack of work ethic, [and] no accountability,” the image he was hoping to leave behind in Colorado. After days of speculation about McClain’s prospects, Kaishay’s claim about coaches reaching out to sign her son to their program was proven true. The Transfer Portal’s official X account confirmed, “Former 5-star CB Cormani McClain has been in contact with 9 schools across the Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC.”
Former 5-star CB Cormani McClain has been in contact with 9 schools across the Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC, according to @PeteNakos_
McClain's camp said he will commit in 1-2 weeks👀
INTEL: https://t.co/yC2qlnXkjg pic.twitter.com/QdgBG0q7fT
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) May 6, 2024
After Cormani decided to enter the transfer portal, he talked about how playing at Colorado felt like he was playing for “clicks.” Because of his stint in Boulder that didn’t portray him in the best light, he said he wanted to “change the narrative surrounding my name and be a part of a real and great program that’s going to impact me to the best of my ability,” taking a further dig at Deion Sanders & Co. However, after her attack on Coach Prime, too, Kaishay couldn’t help but show appreciation for the time and effort he and CU put into her son.
“Cormani has no one working under him or for him. He & I will be contacting the coaches directly!!! Thankful for all opportunities 🌹And to @DeionSanders & the buff nation 🦬 you guys are still appreciated no matter what! No lost love here! God bless 🫶🏽,” she tweeted. Replying to her, Deion Sanders buried the hatchet and replied, “Much Love, Mama, and I pray that all things work together for the good.”
With all the support he could need and well-wishes backing him, Cormani McClain may have a tough decision after the transfer portal confirmed that nine schools are interested in him. But who could they be?
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The teams that could potentially be Cormani McClain’s future home
The Colorado Buffaloes may not have had the best ending to their story with McClain, but that hasn’t stopped the youngster from chasing his dreams of being a pro football player. The former five-star national prospect is already in talks to be signed with top-tier schools like Oklahoma, LSU, USC, Texas, Georgia, and Oregon. Specifically, the Ducks could be a team that McClain could end up with. But wherever he goes, it looks like he’s still following what Coach Prime asked of him.
McClain opened up about the importance of focusing on studying as much as concentrating on football, saying, “I would say staying on top of school [is my biggest priority right now],” adding, “You’ve gotta make sure your grades and everything is great in the transfer portal. I don’t know why everybody’s saying the school part about me. I got As and Bs. So it’s never the school part, just to clear that up.”
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According to On3, McClain’s list of potential programs included Alabama, Florida, Miami, Georgia, BYU, Ohio State, and Michigan. Now that he’s expanded his top-five list to include Oregon, Dan Lanning will likely be all smiles. Given that multiple programs are interested in the cornerback, there’s no doubt that Cormani McClain will choose the one that resonates with him the most. Maybe it’ll be Miami. After all, he was committed to the program before Coach Prime came in and swooped him up to take to Colorado.
That said, where do you think the former Buff will end up?