Cormani McClain reportedly has behavioral issues with Billy Napier’s Gators following transfer from Deion Sanders’ Colorado
Cormani McClain left the Colorado Buffaloes following a tricky first year under coach Deion Sanders. The cornerback seemingly threw shade at his former team before securing a transfer to the Florida Gators. However, according to Nick de la Torre, a senior writer for GatorsOnline and On3, McClain might not have started his stint with the Gators as a model athlete.
In a forum post, de la Torre was asked about McClain, and the reporter seemingly hinted at the CB having behavioral issues by calling him "immature" and saying he "needs to grow up":
"I was told that Cormani McClain has been late to most of the requirements (meetings, lift, etc). The way that it's handled is like a strike system."
De la Torre said that the Gators got the rest of the team to do extra work in the gym hoping it would influence Cormani, but that did not prove to be the case.
De la Torre continued:
"You're not going to be liked in the locker room if your tardiness/immaturity is causing the rest of your team to have to run. Just immature. Needs to grow up."
Fans had much to say in the comments section of the above post, with the majority questioning McClain's commitment to fulfilling his potential.
How did Cormani McClain perform at Colorado?
Cormani McClain joined the Colorado Buffaloes after an impressive high school career at Lakeland. McClain was a five-star prospect and the best-ranked cornerback in his class by the recruiting sites. He chose the Buffaloes amid many offers from high-profile colleges.
McClain recorded a stat line of 13 tackles including six unassisted, one tackle for loss and two pass breakups in nine games with the Buffaloes (four of which were starts). The former five-star prospect seemed discontent with the developments and entered the transfer portal following the 2023 college football season.
Following the news of his decision to enter the transfer portal, CU coach Deion Sanders said:
"I pray to God that he goes to a program that challenges him, as well as holds him accountable and develops him as a young man. Unfortunately, we weren't the program that could accomplish that."
McClain visited Florida in May and decided to commit to the program, joining the school with three years of eligibility left.
What to expect from Cormani McClain and Billy Napier in Florida
Cormani McClain joins a Florida Gators team active in the 2024 transfer portal. The Gators also added defensive backs Asa Turner, Trikweze Bridges and Jameer Grimsley, and improved their offensive line and linebacker rotations.
Coach Billy Napier's Florida is expected to improve on last season's 5-7 record. The Gators lost five games to close out the year, and they'll need to fix their defensive issues to avoid a repeat in 2024.