McClain, the former top cornerback recruit in the nation in the Cass of 2023, initially signed with Colorado but entered the NCAA transfer portal after one season. He now has three years of eligibility as a Florida Gator.
Celebrating his Pick-6 (photo, USA Today)
In his first season at UF, McClain recorded five tackles, one pass breakup, and one interception in just three games of action, but his season was cut short due to an undisclosed upper-body injury. While only playing a total of 111 snaps, his breakout came in the late minutes of a Week 8 victory over Kentucky, where he recorded his first interception, a pick-6. Florida’s Billy Napier wasn’t surprised. “Cormani would intercept passes daily when he played on our scout team.”
Because McClain appeared in only three games, he saved a year of eligibility as a red shirt, which means he still has three years of eligibility heading into the 2025 season. Equally good news is that he will compete as a scholarship player this fall. The only issue is where he’ll settle in the Gator’s cornerback rotation.
To go from being a five-star recruit to not playing at Colorado, then to a walk-on in Gainesville, and now on to scholarship status, is testimony to Corani’s fortitude and persistence. Now, Florida fans are excited to see him get playing time–not only showing the SEC how good he can be but also laying the foundation for what many believe is a future NFL career.
