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Former Colorado 5-Star Recruit Gets Big News at Florida

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Borba | Last updated Jan 23, 2025 8:00 AM ET

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has been known to pull off five-star surprises in his five seasons as a college football coach.

From two-way star Travis Hunter at Jackson State to quarterback Julian Lewis, Sanders has attracted top talent at both stops. Hunter (2022) flipped from Florida State on signing day, Lewis (2025) had been committed to USC for a year before flipping to Colorado and even offensive tackle Jordan Seaton (2024) had schools attempting to flip him from the Buffs on signing day.

However, before the 2023 season, Sanders' landing of five-star corner Cormani McClain may have been the biggest surprise. Not only was he the first five-star recruit Sanders landed at Colorado, but he was expected to end up at in-state Florida or Miami.

Ultimately, McClain's time in Boulder didn't go as either party had hoped, and he entered his name into the transfer portal after his lone season. His market wasn't as lucrative as when he was a recruit, so McClain opted to walk on at Florida. However, after impressing in 2024, it was revealed on Wednesday that he was being put on scholarship in a report by Zach Goodall of Swamp247.

"He (McClain) is now on scholarship, Swamp247 has learned," wrote Goodall.

In just three games of action in Gainesville, McClain recorded five total tackles, one pass deflection and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown. The former No. 14 overall recruit and No. 1 corner in the country even notched a start against Texas in Week 11.

His season was cut short due to an upper-body injury, but head coach Billy Napier clearly saw enough from him on and off of the field to make this move. While things appear to be going well at Florida, his departure from Colorado didn't end on the best terms.

Upon leaving Colorado, McClain appeared to take a shot at the program and Sanders in a YouTube video when discussing what he was looking for at his next step.

"I feel like I just don't want to play for clicks," McClain said last April. "I actually want to be involved with a great, leading program that's going to develop players."

Sometimes, a change of scenery is all that is needed, and that appears to be the case for McClain.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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