Star Colorado football flip a no-brainer breakout candidate

Buffaloes Wire's Tony Cosolo sees Colorado football cornerback Cormani McClain as a "no-brainer" breakout candidate in 2024 -- believing that it's inevitable that No. 1 will be a starter in CU's secondary.

"This one’s another no-brainer, as Cormani McClain is a former five-star recruit who has gained some size this offseason," Cosolo wrote. "McClain started in four games while playing in nine last season and got some valuable experience. I expect McClain to be a starter in his sophomore season."

Following the Arizona matchup on November 11, Coach Prime expressed how proud he was of McClain after overcoming his early-season struggles; signaling a stark contrast from Deion Sanders' September call-outs.

“I’m really, really proud of Cormani, I really am,” Sanders said (h/t BuffZone). “He’s come a long way just to get on the field and stay on the field consistently. And I haven’t watched the film as of yet but what I saw with the naked eye, he played a viable game. With his play, we could have won.”

Cormani McClain was once deemed unprepared to play for Colorado football by Coach Prime

McClain was deemed unprepared to play for the Buffs by Coach Prime ahead of his season debut against USC in Week 5.

"Study, prepare," Sanders said when asked what McClain could do to be on the field. "Study, prepare, be on time for meetings, show up to the darn meetings. Understand what we're doing as a scheme. Want to play this game; desire to play this game. Desire to be the best in this game at practice, in the film room and on your own free time.

"You would be a fool to put somebody out there and they're unprepared. Can't do it. Won't do it, can't do it."

McClain got himself prepared enough to play in 2023, and now looks prepared to take the world by storm in 2024.