Deion Sanders saw Cormani McClain, freshmen capitalize on opportunity

Deion Sanders appreciated the way Cormani McClain and other freshmen capitalized on their opportunity, despite Colorado’s loss to USC.

McClain was publicly challenged by Sanders to make sure everything was right off the field before stepping onto the field. The former five-star recruit and top cornerback prospect heard his coach and had a high quality game.

To go along with freshman wide out Omarion Miller showing out, McClain stepped up in a big way.

“He’s supposed to take the darn field and play,” Sanders said of McClain postgame. “We want him to be that dude so now we don’t get feathers whatsoever. We have an expectation of what they should be doing and accomplishing. So, but those two young men today, what they did, they stepped out and kind of separated themselves from their yesterday.

“Their yesterday was terrible. But today they came out and established themselves. We just want them to build on it because now we will establish this expectation of the expectation that we already had for them.”

McClain was tight in coverage and gave USC some problems throughout the game. Miller had himself quite the afternoon as well. He finished with seven catches for 196 catches and one touchdown.

“I’m proud of them,” Sanders said. “And what their success is, well, you see young guys that, I just saw the recruits, they can’t wait to get here in the spring and get going. I mean, so that entices them to make sure they get their schoolwork so they could graduate early, so they could get here and keep going.”

McClain had the most action he had all season, so it was good to see, per Sanders.

“From the naked eye he played well,” Sanders said. “I will have to watch the film to make sure you know, it is what it is. So I guess it’s hard to say now. You go in and watch the film and you don’t know. So I want to really reserve until I watch the film, but I’m proud of him for just even stepping up to the challenge to get his butt in there and make a difference. I’m proud of him.

“You’d be a fool not to (hear what I’m saying if you’re him), because you’re not going to play if you don’t. You gonna sit right over there. Probably where you sit and watch, but I’m proud of the kid I’m not gonna change. So somebody’s gonna have to.”