Former Colorado Recruit Takes Savage Parting Swipe at Deion Sanders, Buffaloes’ Program

Kristen Wong | Apr 21, 2024

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Former Colorado cornerback Cormani McClain had choice words for Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders days after McClain announced he was leaving the team.

McClain, a five-star recruit who joined the Buffaloes last year, posted a YouTube video on Sunday shedding light on his decision to enter transfer portal. The defensive back emphasized that he doesn’t want to “play for clicks,” a thinly veiled shot pertaining to last year’s online hype surrounding the Buffaloes program in Sanders’s first season as head coach. 

“I feel like I just don't want to play for clicks,” McClain said. “I actually want to be involved with a great leading program that's going to develop players.”

Cormani McClain put out a youtube video.

He says he wants to play for REAL PROGRAM, he’s grades are good, and he doesn’t want to play for CLICKS. pic.twitter.com/6E2Dzhn6Nt

— NMD Grant (@NMDgrant) April 21, 2024

McClain continued, “I want to bring the old version of me out and change the narrative of everyone’s thinking on my name, be a part of a real and great program that’s going to impact me at my best ability. Ready to get to a new place and get to work.”

In his freshman year at Colorado, McClain recorded 13 tackles and two passes defended in nine games. 

McClain’s decision to transfer comes during an exodus of Colorado players this offseason, with the program experiencing a second massive overhaul since Sanders accepted the head coaching job in December 2022. 14 players have reportedly entered the portal since the start of the spring transfer period on April 16, which is on top of the 12 players who entered the portal from November to March. 

Despite Sanders’s highly anticipated arrival, Colorado’s preseason hype train came to a screeching halt after the team logged six straight losses to end last year’s 4–8 campaign. The Buffaloes will be looking to finish above .500 in a full season for the first time since 2016 as they re-enter the Big 12 this fall.