Colorado cornerback Cormani McClain is looking for a different type of football experience at his next school.
The 20-year-old freshman appeared to throw shade at the Buffaloes’ program and head coach Deion Sanders during a Q&A in a YouTube video titled “Next Step” on Sunday.
McClain announced last Tuesday he was entering the transfer portal.
“Some people just gotta take a step back from things sometimes, certain people, you know,” McClain said. “I feel like I just don’t want to play for clicks. I actually want to be involved with a great leading program that’s going to develop players.”
McClain, a former five-star recruit, explained that he’s ready to change the public perception of him at his next school.
“I’m just ready to bring the old version of me out and change the narrative of everyone’s thinking on my name [and] be a part of a real and a great program that’s going to impact me at my best ability,” he said. “[I’m] ready to get to a new place and get to work.”
McClain did not name Sanders or get into specifics about why things didn’t work out at Colorado — which became a social media phenomenon in the Hall of Famer’s first year as head coach.
Sanders’ celebrity brought attention to Boulder that boosted admissions and millions for the university, while putting a spotlight on the football program.
McClain recorded 13 tackles and two passes defended in nine games in his freshman year at Colorado — and started the final three games of the 2023 campaign.
The skilled defensive back has received interest from LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, Auburn, Texas A&M, USC, UCF, USF, Georgia, UCLA and Oregon, according to On3.
McClain also shut down speculation that grades were the reason he entered the transfer portal.
“It was never the school part just to clear that up with you guys,” McClain said, adding that he “got As and Bs” at Colorado. “Staying on top of school is the biggest impact right now.”
When asked, “What is your message to your next school?” McClain replied: “Just know whoever you are, you’re getting a dog that’s ready to work and that’s a simple fact.”
Sanders seemed to question McClain’s efforts in an interview with DNVR on Wednesday.
“I’m always in prayer for young men, and I want the best for them,” Sanders said. “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.
“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.”
Fourteen scholarship players at Colorado entered the transfer portal since the start of the spring transfer period on April 16, according to ESPN.
That is in addition to the 12 players who entered the portal from November to March.
“We’re good. I trust the recruiting team. I trust our coaches, and please have some faith in me,” Sanders said of the exodus last week. “We good. We all right. We all right.”
Sanders and his recruiting staff have also added a number of players and look to improve after a 4-8 campaign in 2023.
