WATCH: Former 5-star Cormani McClain records pick-six for Florida
Although the game was nearly decided, former elite high school recruit Cormani McClain flashed late by returning an interception for a touchdown against Kentucky.
It was an impressive display of stopping on a dime and then breaking on the ball, showing why he was so highly coveted coming out of high school. That was first official stat as a member of the Florida Gators program.
You can see that interception from McClain below.
A native of Lakeland, Florida, McClain spent his freshman season at Colorado before returning home to the Sunshine State. He initially made a commitment to Miami, and prior to that, was a major target for the Orange and Blue. All in all, he was one of the more notable Florida recruits in recent years.
As a member of the 2023 class, McClain was a 5-star prospect and the No. 1-ranked cornerback in the On3 Industry Ranking. He was also the No. 13-ranked prospect regardless of position.
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“He’s doing fine. I mean, I think a lot of this gets blown out of proportion. He’s a young player. Obviously we’re well aware of his history,” Napier said of Cormani McClain before the season. “Cormani’s a local kid from Lakeland. He’s got relationships with players on our team. We run a tight ship. There’s structure, there’s routine, there’s discipline, there’s accountability.
“It’s hard these days. You’re in the minority if you show up in June, much less the middle of June because you show up a couple of weeks later. It is what it is. He’s had a great week this week. He’s gained 10 pounds. I think he’s learning expectations, he’s learning culture. In the summer, this is not, the coaches aren’t there. This is player-led. I think that’s why I have a lot of confidence in our team. It should be challenging for a guy that shows up in June. It’s a young player with minimal experience. He’s doing just fine. He’s going to be ok.”
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![A touchdown is celebrated with fireworks in the first half at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 17, 2022. [Cyndi Chambers/Gainesville Sun] Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Usf Bulls](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2023/08/27214921/Untitled-design-4-4.png)
