Cormani McClain copies Dan Lanning's verbiage in shot at Colorado football

Oct 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Cormani McClain (1) against the
Oct 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Cormani McClain (1) against the | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Cormani McClain used Dan Lanning's verbiage about Deion Sanders' Colorado football program playing for "clicks" instead of substantial team success in a shot at the Buffs following his transfer from Boulder.

“Change the narrative of everyone’s thinking on my name," McClain said of his transfer (h/t AthlonSports). "Be part of a real and a great program that’s going to impact me and my best ability, and ready to get to a new place and get to work.

"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."

Ahead of a 42-6 Oregon win over Colorado in Week 4 of the 2023 season -- a game McClain sat out because Deion Sanders didn't believe he had earned playing time yet -- Lanning introduced that phrase to describe the Buffs' intentions during a pregame speech to his Ducks locker room.

“The Cinderella story is over, men," Lanning said (h/t Yahoo Sports). "They’re fighting for clicks, we’re fighting for wins. There’s a difference. This game ain’t going to be played in Hollywood. It’s going to be played on the grass."

Oregon reached out to Cormani McClain after Colorado football transfer

Could McClain be foreshadowing a transfer to Oregon in the wake of copying Lanning's verbiage in his shot at Coach Prime and Colorado? The Ducks were one of the schools to reach out to McClain following his portal entry.

In all likelihood, that interest isn't likely to lead to a McClain commitment. Oregon rolling the dice on the corner with a strong NIL offer doesn't feel possible; at least not more so than a Group of Five program like USF bringing him back to his home state.

McClain's future will have many twists and turns, but a stop in Eugene would likely come after a stop elsewhere first given his troubled stint in Boulder.

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