Shedeur Sanders reveals what he's seen from five-star freshman Cormani McClain

Deion Sanders brought a haul of talent with him to Colorado when he took the head coaching gig in Boulder. However, few, if any, come as highly regarded as freshman corner Cormani McClain.

Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders couldn’t agree more based on what he had to say about the former five-star prospect at the program’s media day last week. He said his mental toughness has already started to grow and show just because of how he is already competing in practice.

“He’s definitely mentally strong,” Sanders said. “You come here every day going against the guys we’ve got? You’ve got to be mentally strong each and every day. Because, in practice, it’s, like, you’re either going to gain confidence or you’re going to lose it.”

“Cormani? He’s a freshman so it’s going to be up and downs throughout his journey right now. But being able to go against the players he has in practice is real fun and it’s a real advantage to him,” said Sanders.

McClain, a native of Lakeland, Florida, arrives at Colorado as the highest-rated recruit in their latest class bar none. He was the No. 1 CB recruit in On3’s 2023 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was also a Top-15 player overall in the cycle and a top-three player out of The Sunshine State.

In comparison, only Travis Hunter, a former top prospect that Sanders brought over from Jackson State in 2022, comes close to how highly-touted that McClain is. Ironically enough, Coach Prime picked up both in a similar fashion by flipping Hunter from Florida State and flipping McClain from Miami.

Still, from here, stars and ratings don’t make a difference for anyone. What matters is that he develops and produces at the college level which, according to Sanders, is something that McClain is already getting accustomed to and comfortable with.

Sanders details how his relationship with coach/father Deion Sanders works

For Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, balancing the father-coach relationship with his dad, NFL legend Deion Sanders, is second nature.

While speaking at the Buffaloes’ media day on Friday, the younger Sanders attempted to put into words how he manages to separate the dad and coach titles so well.

“He’s been my coach my whole life so it’s normal,” the QB said. “It’s a time for seriousness and a time for play. So it’s just something that we both know. It’s hard to explain it to you.”

*Follow all Colorado Buffaloes news on Facebook here*

It helps that the two also have their own time away from the football field. Sanders explained how that’s much needed after spending so much of the day together.

“We don’t live together,” he continued. “We go to dinner sometimes, but when I leave the facility, it’s my time just to chill and be on my own time because I’m with him all day every day.”