Cormani McClain’s college career has been under the spotlight since the day he signed with Colorado. The five-star cornerback was one of Deion Sanders’ biggest early recruiting wins in Boulder.
But less than two seasons later, McClain is wearing a Florida jersey and reflecting on how different that journey really was. The young defensive back recently shared how the recruitment unfolded.
He recalled the early morning call that convinced him to join the Buffs. The move to Colorado happened quickly, and the adjustment proved harder than expected. Life under Sanders was not simple. McClain entered a program built on constant attention and instant results.
“Coach Deion actually called me on Signing Day, 5 a.m. in the morning, asked me do I want to come to Colorado,” McClain SAID. “We chatted up, and I got out there three days later for a visit, and I was like, ‘This is home.’”
With inconsistencies in his play time and overall game, the pressure started to build up, and McClain tried his best to make it work.
“I didn’t have enough knowledge. I was just a young player coming in. I just had to adjust,” he added.
🔥 Former Buff Cormani. Opens Up About CU Buffs & Joining Gators
“Coach Deion called me at 5am on signing day. I was just a young player coming in. I just had to adjust” https://t.co/4ZZbJZ8uSQ pic.twitter.com/G1Qw7mvzH1
— JaKi 🇺🇸 (@JaKiTruth) October 3, 2025
Now at Florida, McClain has embraced a reset. Returning to his home state has given him a familiar environment and a chance to grow under a different system. He has admitted that his first stop forced him to learn lessons fast.
Looking back, his story at Colorado reflects the challenges that come with talent meeting expectations. The early hype did not match the reality, and the process demanded more than athletic ability.
Deion Sanders Opened Up About Colorado’s Tough Run So Far
The 2025 season has been full of ups and downs for Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes. They are 2-3 so far, when the expectation from them has been to remain unbeaten. Recently, Coach Prime shared his thoughts on how he sees this season’s results so far.
“When you lose, you’re not happy by any means. But the way you lose improves your attitude,” Sanders TOLD host Mark Johnson. “Can you take some positives from the negative and apply it to you team to hopefully, prayerfully, deposit that this week? Yes.”
“When we walked out of Houston, it was nothing. You’re upset, I mean livid. Last week (BYU), it was, ‘You know what? We should have won that game.’ That’s how you think as a head coach,” he added.
Coming off a fresh loss last week against BYU, the Buffaloes are set to go against the TCU Horned Frogs tonight at the Amon G. Carter Stadium.
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