Florida Gators cornerback Cormani McClain is turning heads in his second offseason at UF, according to a number of coaches and teammates.
Once a five-star prospect and the No.1 cornerback in the 2023 class, McClain’s collegiate journey has been unstable at best. McClain transferred to UF as a preferred walk on in 2024 after just one season at Colorado, where there were documented off the field issues regarding attendance and work ethic.
After logging 111 snaps across three games last season, McClain has made a positive development both on and off the field and could be in line for a significant spike in playing time as a result.
“Cormani has been phenomenal,” strength and conditioning coach Tyler Miles said on McClain. “And not just putting on weight, he has conducted himself extremely well. I’m extremely proud of Cormani McClain. ‘Yes sirs,’ ‘how can I get better?’ You know, he’s put on 20 pounds.”
McClain recently joined the 23 MPH club at UF, which shows just how fast the 6’1, 182-pound cornerback is. To make that figure even more impressive, McClain has put on 20 pounds this offseason, according to Miles.
“He ran 23 miles an hour. He never ran that fast last year, and he weighs 20 pounds more and is running a whole mile per hour faster,” Miles said on McClain. “And I think he’s like the example now for like, what building strength and muscle can do, and being skinny is not the answer, and he’s just done a phenomenal job.”
McClain was given a scholarship for the spring semester, which is a good indication that his work ethic is where it needs to be.
“He just knows what to expect. He knows that he can’t be late to anything. He knows he’s got to be professional. His life is going to be a lot easier if you conduct yourself properly, and he really has. Like, Cormani has been nothing but a joy to see this winter. And that’s awesome,” Miles added on McClain.
It’s no secret that McClain is well-liked within Florida’s locker room. After McClain’s pick six vs Kentucky, the entire team greeted the young cornerback in the end zone, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the entire Gators roster. McClain needed more structure and a better support system, that’s where veteran leaders like Tyreak Sapp come in.
“To see him come from that situation, where there wasn’t a whole lot of structure. He just needed somebody to push him and have teammates be there for him,” Sapp said on McClain. “He’s one of the few players I’m very, very close with. I’m very, very close with Cormani. He works really hard, not just at his craft, but just to be the best person he can be every day. He has grown up a lot. I love to see it. He understands that if he does those things, it’s only going to lead to productivity on and off the field. The kid has grew up a lot. He is going to end up making a lot of plays come fall and do a lot of good things.”
“Cormani [McClain] is coming up. Cormani is going to be dangerous,” Sapp added on McClain. “That kid, he’s fast in the way he understands the game. He just has a knack for playing corner. He understands how to play corner.”
McClain has also stepped up as a leader, paving the way for Florida’s young cornerbacks.
“He’s made huge strides. He’s in the weight room working hard, showing up to meetings early. He’s another guy that I can say definitely took a step as a leader. He’s helped me with the young guys, share with them on the plays he makes, what he did, the process he went through to help the young guys,” teammate Devin Moore said on McClain.
Entering his third season of college football and second at UF, McClain is on pace to see a larger role in 2025. With a number of injuries in the secondary, the Lakeland, Florida native will have a huge opportunity this spring to make his presence felt on the football field. With marked improvements in the weight room and his growth in maturity, all eyes will be on McClain as he looks to make a positive impact this season.