Komani McClain, who joined Colorado last year as a five-star recruit, will leave Deion Sanders’ program and take a shot down the stretch.
McClain, the top-ranked cornerback in last year’s high school class, entered the transfer portal to find a new college home, according to 247Sports, but will discuss the Buffaloes’ program under Coach Sanders on Saturday. I posted the video on YouTube.
“I feel like I don’t want to just play for the clicks. I actually want to be part of a great leading program that develops players,” McClain said in a video titled “Next Steps.” “There is,” he said.
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Colorado’s Komani McClain during a game against Arizona on Nov. 11, 2023 at Folsom Field in Boulder. (Jamie Schwabelow/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
“I want to be a part of a truly great program that changes the narrative around my name and makes as much of an impact as I can,” McClain added.
Sanders recently commented on McClain’s exit from the show after taking a shaky shot himself in the corner.
“I always pray for young men. I want the best for them,” he said in an interview with DNVR. “I pray to God that he will be in a program that challenges him, holds him accountable and develops him as a young man.
Deion Sanders not worried about Colorado’s numerous transfer portal losses: ‘We’ll be fine’
“Unfortunately, we weren’t a program that could get that done, so hopefully he understands this is a second round and gets it. He’s got a tremendous amount of talent. But he has to want it. “
Sanders’ comments infer that McClain didn’t give his best effort last season, totaling just 13 tackles and two passes defended in nine games.
Komani McClain of the University of Colorado Buffs prepares to play at the line of scrimmage against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Oct. 7, 2023. (Bruce Yang/Getty Images)
As for McClain’s comments about not wanting to play for Click, the Buffaloes certainly won college football after defeating then-No. 1-ranked TCU, a team that advanced to the national title game the year before, to take third place. It made headlines at the beginning of the season. Start a new campaign with 0.
But the headlines got even worse as Colorado struggled after a hot start, going 1-8 and finishing last in the Pac-12.
With 12 players entering before the spring window opened, Saunders knows how much the transfer portal will bring in from the program. Since that slot rolled around, 14 more players have entered the portal, bringing the Buffaloes’ total to 26.
But Sanders also benefited from the portal, adding 86 new players in his first season, 53 of whom were transfers.
Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Komani McClain walks through the tunnel to warm up before playing against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on September 23, 2023. (Andy Cross/Media News Group/Denver Post via Getty Images)
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But losing a highly ranked player like McClain is hard to swallow.
The Buffaloes will join the Big 12 Conference as the Pac-12 disbands for the 2024-25 college season.
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