With the NCAA ending the recruiting dead period June 1, recruits have finally been able to visit college campuses for the first time since March 2020. BYU has started camps since then and dozens of recruits have to Provo to work out in front of coaches.
The highest profile recruit to visit is 5-star 2023 cornerback Cormani McClain from Lakeland, Florida. McClain has offers from virtually every big school — Alabama, Ohio State, LSU, Oklahoma, Florida and just about every other P5 school you can think have all offered McClain. Despite all those offers, McClain paid his own way to travel across the country to visit BYU and participate in the camp. 247’s composite rankings have McClain as the 28th best prospect in the nation and number three cornerback.
McClain announced on his Twitter that BYU offered him a scholarship.
Amazing Visit At BYU for The Past Couple Of Days And Amazed To Be Offer From Dere! @BYUfootball @BYUCougars @kalanifsitake #BYU pic.twitter.com/MAmoW4lLgb
— 7️⃣.Loading (@CormaniMcClain2) June 9, 2021
Check out 5⭐️ Player @CormaniMcClain2 here at @BYUfootball at there Camp. He’s having a great time getting use to the Altitude coming from Florida!!! @sltrib @DeseretNews @BYU @dailyherald pic.twitter.com/B4gYGaVCA3
— Mr2Fly (@PrettyBoiRee) June 8, 2021
He even made his Instagram profile picture one of him in a BYU uniform.
Cormani McClain has offers from literally every big school and BYU’s chances are next to zero to get him, but it is cool that his IG profile picture is him a BYU uni https://t.co/jbEhwrxoO7 pic.twitter.com/EyURnhJYC8
— Robby McCombs (@rtmccombs) June 8, 2021
McClain visited with his uncle Tyre Brooks, who recommended he visit BYU. Tyre tweeted the below and is in the pictures with Cormani.
“Big moves with my boi @CormaniMcClain2
— Mr2Fly (@PrettyBoiRee) June 9, 2021
Had a great time at @BYUfootball. Ya boi ready to get back on the field. 1 year play deal with #BYU. What do you all think about this next upcoming season lol@BYUFBRecruiting @byuequipment @BYU @CriddleBenjamin @BYUSportsNation pic.twitter.com/yiRgK9liKt
McClain spoke with Ben Criddle on ESPN 960 and talked about his experience at BYU. He said he made a great connection with BYU’s coaching staff and liked that they “kept it real.” He’s looking to go to a school where he can start as a true freshman and can connect with the coaching staff. McClain specifically called out Kalani and Cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford as coaches with whom he connected.
BYU’s chances to land McClain are slim. But it is encouraging that one of the nation’s top recruits paid his own way to visit BYU and participate in one of the camps. Zach Wilson’s prominence and BYU’s 11-1 season surely didn’t hurt in bringing McClain across the country.