Cormani McClain seeks to join 'real' program, doesn't want to 'play for clicks'

The Colorado Buffaloes recently lost former 5-star defensive back Cormani McClain to the Transfer Portal after just one season in Boulder. It was a decision that raised a lot of eyebrows, and McClain took to social media to share his side of things.

McClain put out a YouTube video responding to a few questions that fans sent him on Instagram. In it, he says he wants to change the narrative about himself and be a part of a great program. He also added that he doesn’t want to “play for clicks.”

“I’m ready to bring the old version of me out and change the narrative of everyone’s thinking on my name,” Cormani McClain said. “Be part of a real and a great program that’s going to impact me and my best ability, and ready to get to a new place and get to work.”

McClain also wanted to make it clear that he’s excited to get to work at his next stop.

“Just know whoever you are, you’re getting a dawg who’s ready to work,” McClain said. “That simple. A simple fact.”

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It was at that point in the video that McClain added that he needed to take a step back and that there aren’t any hard feelings with Colorado. However, he wanted to play for a team that was a “leading program” that knows how to develop players.

“No hard feelings. Sometimes people just gotta take a step back from things sometimes. Certain people, you know?” McClain said. “I felt like I just don’t want to play for the clicks. I actually want to be involved with a great leading program that’s going to develop players. With that being said, that will wrap up all the questions from you guys.”

A five-star recruit out of Lakeland, Florida in the Class of 2023, Cormani McClain was the top-ranked cornerback and the 13th-ranked player nationally, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He chose to go to Colorado over schools like Florida and Miami, making him a major recruit for head coach Deion Sanders.

In his one season at Colorado, Cormani McClain played in nine games and had 13 tackles. He also had a pair of passes that he defended.

“Everything is in God’s hands right now. I’m just ready to get to a new home and get to work,” McClain concluded.

Since initially entering the Transfer Portal, Cormani McClain says that he’s heard from 11 teams, including  LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, Auburn, Texas A&M, USC, UCF, USF, Georgia, UCLA, and Oregon. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Pete Thamel says that he expects McClain to land at a blue blood.

Deion Sanders on Cormani McClain’s transfer

Shortly following Cormani McClain announcing his decision to transfer, Deion Sanders shared his thoughts on the situation.

“I’m always in prayer for young men, and I want the best for them, and 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,” Sanders said.

“So prayerfully that he understands that this is his second go-around and get it. Go get it, man. Because he has a tremendous amount of talent, but he has to want it.”