Cormani McClain arrived in Boulder as a highly sought-after 5-star recruit. However, his exit was even more attention-grabbing, as he publicly criticized the head coach, Deion Sanders. McClain accused the team of prioritizing “clicks” over the game and expressed his desire to be part of a “real and great program.” 

McClain’s remarks initially sparked a backlash against Coach Prime, raising questions about his ability to retain players. However, the situation backfired for McClain as many programs hesitated to recruit him due to his “immature” talks. Many programs are now wondering if McClain has the mental toughness to overcome new challenges. Despite the setback, McClain recently visited the Florida Gators, giving him a glimmer of hope.  

The mental aspect of football in focus

Kevin Borba of The “Locked On Buffs” YouTube channel recently shared his thoughts on former star recruit Cormani McClain. “Cormani McClain still has potential. I just think that he has a lot of growing up to do,” he said. Borba went on to add, “It was the mental aspect of college football that got him. I don’t know if it was any of the physical stuff.” He pointed to the cornerback’s performances “against Washington State” and “Utah,” noting that they weren’t “that great of a game.” This likely contributed to Deion Sanders starting McClain in only four of the nine games he played last season.

Borba also offered suggestions for McClain’s improvement, saying, “He needs to study more film so that way he could understand certain looks, tendencies of receivers, tendencies of quarterbacks.“ While a new team could help McClain develop these skills, Borba emphasized the importance of strengthening his mental game. He highlighted “the mental aspect of college football,” saying, “I don’t think a lot of people realize this that even the jump from high school to college is very different.“ Borba thus believes that Cormani could be a great asset if he concentrated on the “mental aspect“ of football. 

Cormani’s way to Gators is filled with challenges

Cormani McClain’s time in Colorado saw limited playing time with him reportedly missing practices and classes, drawing criticism from Deion for lack of preparation and punctuality. Rumors also circulated about McClain’s jealousy toward Deion’s sons, Shilo and Shedeur, and two-way star Travis Hunter.

Even with these concerns, if the Gators decide to take a chance on McClain, he’ll have to improve significantly. The university already boasts a high 95% graduation rate for its athletes, so Cormani must focus on academics and athletics. 247Sports Florida expert Jacob Rudner reported, “Florida’s scholarship roster is full entering the summer, which could lead the Gators to add McClain as a walk-on and supplement the lack of scholarship via NIL, a move that would make his non-scholarship status somewhat of a formality.” 

Moreover, Gators already have two homegrown CB options in Jason Marshall and Devin Moore. So while they may not need McCain for starting options, if he proves himself, he could move up the depth chart there. The path ahead is tricky, but McClain’s willingness to work better will change the narrative.