Deion Sanders responded to cornerback Cormani McClain entering the spring transfer portal.
McClain, a five-star recruit, was the No. 1-ranked cornerback from the class of 2023. After flipping his commitment from Miami to Colorado, he had a tumultuous freshman season with Sanders’ Buffaloes.
During a Wednesday interview with DNVR Sports, Sanders told Ryan Koenigsberg and Jake Schwanitz that he’ll always “want the best” for his players.
“I pray to God that he goes to a program that challenges him as well as holds him accountable and develops him as a young man,” Sanders said, via On3. “Unfortunately, we weren’t the program that could accomplish that.”
Sanders hopes McClain “understands that this is his second go-around” and makes the most of a fresh start.
“Go get it, man,” Sanders said. “Because he has a tremendous amount of talent, but he has to want it.”
Despite the immense recruiting hype, McClain didn’t play a single snap on defense during Colorado’s 3-0 start. Sanders sent him a stern message through the media, saying he must “study and prepare” to get on the field.
“Be on time for meetings. Show up to the darn meetings,” Sanders said in September. “Understand what we’re doing as a scheme. Want to play this game. Desire to play this game. Desire to be the best in his game.”
McClain finished the season with 13 tackles and two pass breakups. In November, Sanders said he was “really proud” of McClain’s development.
“He’s been a lot more focused,” Sanders said. “A lot more understanding of the expectation and what we want from him — that we’ve challenged him tremendously all year long.”
McClain is slated to become one of many players to move from or to Colorado through the transfer portal during a busy offseason for Sanders.