Gators analysts are not overly optimistic about the thought of former Colorado football cornerback Cormani McClain potentially committing to Billy Napier's program.
Locked On Gators host Brandon Olsen foresees a scenario where the Lakeland product burns out at the University of Florida after being in Deion Sanders' doghouse for conduct violations off the field and notable struggles on it.
"If Cormani McClain is a Gator then he’s a Gator but I’m not going to pretend to be optimistic about him working out," Olsen prefaced before saying, "Was very raw coming out of HS and needs a ton of refinement to be successful, where he hasn’t shown the willingness to put in the work. Struggled a TON on the field with Colorado too. If he walks on and puts in the work then great but more often than not the high ranking recruit that doesn’t work hard will burn out."
Gators Breakdown's David Waters agreed, believing the lack of work ethic will hurt him more than any disciplinary issues McClain may have had in Boulder; issues that reportedly had to do with the culture in Boulder and the state of Colorado in general.
"This I buy more than the culture side of it," Waters prefaced before saying, "Worth taking the risk on from both angles IMO."
Cormani McClain forfeited chance to be Deion Sanders' first long-term Colorado football success story
McClain could've been the first player to come to Colorado as a freshman and become a star over three or four years under Deion Sanders. Instead, he's now the guy who progressively earned Coach Prime's respect over the course of a season only to throw it away and find a new home the first chance he got.
In many ways, McClain represents the new age of college football recruiting: commits to a school out of high school, reneges his choice, and then transfers out of his new school at the first chance -- well, not the first chance since he left CU in the April portal cycle, but still.
McClain isn't doing anything illegal and has every right to find the best fit for his collegiate career, but his process is one that college football old heads don't appreciate.
Though if he can put it all together in Gainesville, Gators fans will appreciate him plenty.