Deion Sanders candid on 5-star CB Cormani McClain: ‘Show up’
BOULDER, Colo. (BVM) – Freshman cornerback Cormani McClain, the headliner of Deion Sanders’ opening recruiting class at Colorado, has found himself on the outside looking in of the Buffaloes’ current secondary rotation through the first four games of the season.
With plenty of expectations entering the year for the top-ranked cornerback in the Class of 2023, the Buffaloes head coach was asked on Tuesday about his playing time, and Sanders was quite direct with his response.
“Study and prepare,” Sanders told reporters. “Be on time for meetings, show up to the darn meetings. Understand what we’re doing as a scheme. Want to play this game. Desire to play this game. Desire to be the best at this game at practice, in the film room and on your own free time. You do know I check film time from each player… so I can see who’s preparing. That’s just not about Cormani, that’s about a multitude of them. So, if I don’t see that, you would be a fool to put somebody out there and they’re unprepared. Can’t do it, won’t do it.”
McClain registered his only stats of the season in Colorado’s 42-6 loss against Oregon, with just two tackles. Even with star cornerback Travis Hunter out for the team’s latest game, McClain still found himself down the depth chart as Omarion Cooper and Kyndrich Breedlove were put in more actively for the game.
“Cormani’s mature, he knows what he wants in life, he’s going to go get it,” linebacker Juwan Mitchell said. “Yeah, he got things he got to work on, we all do. He’s real hungry. He comes in everyday ready to work… he’s special. I expect coming back in a year or two like him being one of those guys.”
With a chance that Hunter remains sidelined for at least the coming week and some of the Buffaloes’ upcoming schedule, McClain could find himself in the perfect spot to capitalize on some of the open playing time. Sanders’ direct message could be just what the young corner needs to get on the field.
