Deion Sanders has taken something of a veiled shot at cornerback Cormani McClain.
McClain, a five-star recruit and the top-ranked cornerback in the country in his high school class last year, according to 247, is entering the transfer portal.
Sanders was asked about McClain’s decision in an interview with DNVR earlier this week, and gave an answer that indicated the head coach was not impressed with the departing player’s effort during his year in Boulder.
“I’m always in prayer for our young men, and I want the best for them. I pray to God that he goes to a program that challenges him, as well as hold him accountable and develop him as a young man,” Sanders said.
“Unfortunately we weren’t the program that could accomplish that, so preferably he understands that this is the second go-round and get it — go get it man, because he has a tremendous amount of talent. But he has to want it.”
Running back Alton McCaskill is also entering the transfer portal.
Speaking generally about the portal, Sanders was not overly disappointed about any of the players leaving Colorado.
“A lot of people are fighting for backups,” he said. “When a guy is a starter and he transfers, you’ve really got think about that. We have some coming in for visits pretty soon, we can attract those type of players but I don’t think we’re losing those type of players. And if we do, we’re good. We’re good.”
Sanders is entering his second season at Colorado, the program’s first year in the Big 12.
Last year, Colorado started hot, winning its first game of the season on the road at No. 17 TCU, before notching home victories over Nebraska and Colorado State.
However, the season took a dark turn, as the team eight of its last nine games — and the last six in a row — and finished in last place in the final season of the Pac-12.