Colorado '23 FL DB - Cormani McClain (Colorado Verbal)

Rivals.com
24/7Sports

DEFENSIVE BACK
6'2''|170 LBS
CLASS OF 2023

Ohio State has offered.

 

Very Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State University 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️@CoachTonyAlford @coachpaxia @fbscout_florida @DauntaPeterson @MarcMarkee @247Sports @247recruiting @Rivals @LakeGibsonFB #BOE pic.twitter.com/auqJDhDSr7

— 7 (@CormaniMcClain2) February 22, 2021

 

Check out (2020 SEASON) SOPHOMORE YEAR by Cormani McClain on @hudl https://t.co/h6Wus39U10 #hudl

— OSUBasketballJunkie (@ScarletBuckeye2) February 22, 2021

 

The #Buckeyes offer 2023 Florida cornerback @CormaniMcClain2. https://t.co/Bs4EtQAJL7

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) February 23, 2021

 

The Hurry-Up: Ohio State offers the nation's No. 1 WR in “do-it-all” Brandon Inniss and two additional five-star candidates in WR Jalen Hale and CB Cormani McClain. https://t.co/ujAXOZcSuu

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 23, 2021

CORMANI MCCLAIN
McClain is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound prospect out of Lakeland (Florida) High School, the same program that houses another Ohio State prospect in the 2022 cycle, five-star defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, whom the Buckeyes have offered.

McClain is an early five-star candidate who has the potential to wind up in the top three at the cornerback spot. What makes that all the more incredible for McClain is that he wasn’t even supposed to play cornerback this past season. He was set to only play at receiver, but injuries forced him onto the other side of the field.

He flourished, using his noticeable length, man-press physicality and the ball skills he learned as a receiver to snag a school-record nine interceptions along with 29 tackles. That standout season has led to a chunk of offers, with Ohio State, Alabama and Georgia calling this week in addition to Florida, Florida State, Miami and Penn State.

McClain, the first cornerback offered by the Buckeyes in the 2023 class, is a player to keep tabs on for the rest of this cycle.

 

On A Mission To Success I Will Love To Thank EveryOne During My Recruitment process nd Still Thank The Ones Who Downed Me Im Blessed To Say I Have A Top 5 Always Knew I Was Going To Live This Life Style And Be A Big Impact As A Kid....But We Up Now!!!
“MY TOP 5”🔥 pic.twitter.com/6ux4HbNJ44

— 7 (@CormaniMcClain2) August 5, 2021

 

#OhioState is one of five remaining schools for Cormani McClain.

The 2023 #Rivals100 DB details why OSU made the cut, thoughts on the history of their secondary, and when he may visit Columbus.

“I’ve been wanting to be a Buckeye since I was little.”

➡️ https://t.co/lvK5pNnml1 pic.twitter.com/6fC23IzFuz

— Big Me Kickoff (@BigMe_Kickoff) August 5, 2021

 

Sonny Styles didn't allow a catch against him, Luke Montgomery didn't look like a rookie at left tackle and Cormani McClain snagged three picks in their season openers on Friday. https://t.co/VgZWOla28F

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 22, 2021

MCCLAIN HAS 3-INT GAME
While Styles wasn't challenged much Friday, someone apparently missed the memo that Cormani McClain is the No. 1 rated cornerback in the class of 2023.

Some defensive backs are lucky enough to get three interceptions in a season. McClain matched that total in one game en route to leading Lake Gibson (Lakeland, Florida) to a 56-24 win over Plant City.

McClain released a top five earlier this month that included Ohio State, Florida, Alabama, Miami and Florida State. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound five-star playmaker is the No. 10 rated recruit in the 2023 cycle.

 

New 2023 five-star Cormani McClain is already narrowing his focus to group of elite college programs.

@RWrightRivals caught up with him to talk Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma, USC and others: https://t.co/kwuce2jlO7 pic.twitter.com/OlIQMJ9fbC

— Rivals (@Rivals) December 7, 2021

 

2023 five-star CB Cormani McClain has a new list of favorites which includes Ohio State, Florida and others https://t.co/oFYCpxPSoT pic.twitter.com/ydcVafr3xf

— Adam Gorney (@adamgorney) January 1, 2022

 

Some big visits are on the horizon for Five-Star Plus+ Cormani McClain.

Read more about the No.1 CBs recruitment on @On3Sports: https://t.co/M5liyIUTwo pic.twitter.com/Bs2k3nagkj

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) January 3, 2022

 

MCCLAIN TO VISIT OHIO STATE
Ohio State could be hosting a five-star 2023 cornerback in a few weeks.

Cormani McClain, rated the fourth-best player in the 2023 cycle and the top cornerback per 247Sports’ composite rankings, told On3 this week he plans to visit five schools soon: Ohio State, Alabama, Miami, Michigan and Oklahoma. That list is somewhat different than the top five McClain put out in November, which consisted of Ohio State, Florida, Florida State, Alabama and Miami.

Obviously, landing a talent of McClain’s caliber would be monumental for OSU, but its top cornerback target for 2023 remains AJ Harris, who recently delayed his original commitment date of Jan. 11. But if the Buckeyes could somehow land both, if you want to dream, the Ohio State coaching staff would certainly be happy to have them.

 

McClain to make Buckeye visit?
Despite the fact that Ohio State is set to welcome a pair of four-star cornerbacks in Jyaire Brown of Lakota West (OH) and Ryan Turner of Chaminade-Madonna Prep (FL), the fan base seems to have a bad taste in their mouth due to a last minute flip of Terrance Brooks to Texas.

However, Ohio State has an opportunity to bounce back in a big way at the position in the upcoming cycle. One name discussed often is five-star cornerback A.J. Harris of Central (AL) and rightfully so. But another name to watch closely is five-star cornerback Cormani McClain of Lake Gibson (FL).

According to Bill Greene of BuckeyeScoop.com, the Buckeyes are "in-line to get a visit" from McClain.

The 6-foot-1, 165-pounder is currently ranked as the top cornerback in the class and the highest graded prospect from the state of Florida. You will also find just three players in the entire class with a better grade than the Lakeland, Florida standout.

For Ohio State to have a real chance at McClain, this is a visit that has to happen and early indications are that it will. However, it will still be a tough task to pull the standout from the sunshine state with programs like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami (FL), LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas A&M, and many others in pursuit.

 

2023 five-star Cormani McClain has offers from all over the country.

So which schools are near the top of his list?

@RWrightRivals caught up with him to get the latest: https://t.co/HjUisMECXg pic.twitter.com/kUNzVEnWJt

— Rivals (@Rivals) January 15, 2022

 

Some #stuff on five-star cornerback @CormaniMcClain2 and the Buckeyes continued pursuit of the 2023 standout — https://t.co/qOfNmHuwzA

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) January 22, 2022

 

After a number of coaching changes at schools he is considering, Five-Star Plus+ cornerback Cormani McClain is looking to build relationships and knows where he wants to visit. (On3+)

MORE: https://t.co/ANyZK86J0h pic.twitter.com/jtl4Djb4kP

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) January 23, 2022

 

CORMANI MCCLAIN
McClain has two Crystal Ball projections thus far, and neither of them are for Ohio State. Yet McClain has said he's intrigued by the Buckeyes, who he’s included in his top five, and plans to take a visit to Columbus in the spring. Ohio State wants to take two cornerbacks in the 2023 class, and McClain is the top-ranked cornerback in 247Sports’ composite rankings.

 

Early in November, McClain named his top five schools. A couple of months later, that list has changed a little for the No. 1 CB in the country.

Read more from On3's Director of Recruiting @ChadSimmons_ (On3+): https://t.co/91UEXwFF4R pic.twitter.com/es3kktoFcY

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) February 7, 2022

 

The family environment shown by #UF's new staff impressed the mother of 5-star CB Cormani McClain during their two day stay last weekend https://t.co/CwbxIqmvyH pic.twitter.com/8TEZ7E9SYD

— Blake Alderman (@Blake_Alderman) March 22, 2022