Cornerback Cormani McClain was born in Lakeland, Florida on February 26, 2004, and in amazingly short order leaped into his current position of being the top-rated corner in at least recent history. McClain stands tall and lean, boasting a reported measurement of 6’2″ in height while weighing only 165 lbs-a combination of great length, fluid movement, along with impressive football aptitude for either a senior scholar or top-rated NFL talent scout.
Early Life and High School
Career McClain attended Lakeland Senior High School, where he began showcasing his wide receiver skills. However, an injury to a teammate in his sophomore year called for his position change to cornerback—a move that was going to seal his football destiny. McClain was a phenomenal playmaker in this position, intercepting a pass in each game that he started during the season. His outstanding performances made him the regional player of the year on defense, and he became a force to be reckoned with on defense.
Recruitment and College Commitments
McClain was a consensus five-star prospect and one of the best prospects in the 2023 class, ranked No. 3 nationally according to Rivals.com, and No. 4 according to ESPN and 247Sports. McClain had earlier committed to the University of Miami, but a flip in commitment came when Deion Sanders took over as head coach at the University of Colorado Boulder and McClain was going to run with the Buffaloes. His commitment, at the time, had ranked as one of the biggest recruiting wins for Colorado.
Collegiate Career and Transfer to Florida
A safety at Colorado during the 2023 season as a true freshman, McClain played nine games with four starts for a total of 13 tackles-which consisted of six solo efforts-one for a loss, and a couple of breakups. While those are reasonable numbers for that stage in their career, he found a new destination to continue developing at as McClain took his name on the road transferring to the University of Florida for head coach Billy Napier back on May 15, 2024.
Upon joining the Florida Gators
McClain faced struggles in the squad, including joining initially as a walk-on due to the limited number of scholarships. Not one to give up, he kept at it and was able to earn a scholarship by the month of January 2025 and was a moment of his life celebrated by himself, family, and supporters. His mother expressed gratitude on social media.
Performance with the Florida Gators
McClain saw action in three games this year, with an upper-body injury limiting him afterward. The defender recorded five tackles to go along with a pass breakup and returned one interception for a score against the Kentucky Wildcats. Opting to take a redshirt season retained the season of eligibility to have three remaining years competing at the college level entering 2025.
Challenges and Growth
McClain’s path to the NFL has been bumpy. In July of 2024, word got out about McClain’s issues with punctuality and maturity; those raised questions as to whether or not he was prepared to play college football at a top-tier school. These have served as life- and sports-changing moments, instilling into him what it’s going to take-discipline and accountability-to reach success for years to come.
Looking Ahead
As the 2025 season begins, McClain is ready to make a significant impact with the Florida Gators. With his physical makeup and lessons learned from some bumps early on, he is a player to keep an eye on. Everyone will be excited to see how he uses both his talent and experiences to help his team win and take the next step in his football career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Cormani McClain transfer from Colorado to Florida?
McClain made the transfer to the University of Florida in May 2024 in hopes of finding a more suitable fit into his position, one that best complements his goals in development and finds him the support he so desires under head coach Billy Napier.
What were the challenges McClain faced entering into the Florida Gators?
McClain walked on because of the limitations in scholarship availability upon arrival. He also had some questions regarding punctuality and maturity, but he worked his way through those by maturing and giving his best efforts to earn a scholarship in January 2025.
How many years of eligibility does McClain have remaining?
McClain, who will redshirt the 2024 season due to injury, will have three years of eligibility remaining entering the 2025 season.
What were McClain’s accomplishments in high school?
McClain was a wide receiver as a freshman and transitioned to cornerback his next year in school. After tallying an interception in every game he started his sophomore season, McClain went on to gain regional defensive player of the year and quickly established himself as one of the best recruits in the 2023 class.
