Michigan football missed on transfer portal cornerback Terrance Brooks earlier this week. Brooks, a 19-game starter for Texas over the past two seasons, committed to Illinois.
That was a blow. Brooks would have been an ideal fit next to Will Johnson and it felt like he would have been a plug-and-play starter the way Josh Wallace was in 2023.
Michigan football has some decent options at cornerback. Jyaire Hill is going to have a good season. I also like Ja’Den McBurrows in the slot, or the outside. But McBurrows and Hill aren’t what I would call proven players. They are talented. They have played well in spurts but doing it each game in the Big Ten is different.
The chances of getting through a season playing just three corners isn’t likely. Myles Pollard is another option. Some freshmen could push for playing time too, but it’s not an ideal situation for a defending national champion.
Could Michigan football target former 5-star Cormani McClain?
According to Sam Webb of the Michigan Insider, there has been contact between the Wolverines and Cormani McClain. Michigan knows it needs corner depth and McClain might be the best option if it’s not too late.
Florida has stepped up as the team to beat in his recruitment from the transfer portal. There haven’t been many programs interested after he left Colorado but the talent of the 6-foot-2 cornerback, ranked 14th overall in the 2024 class according to the 247 Sports composite rankings is undeniable.
McClain played in nine games last season for Colorado. He had 13 tackles and two passes defended. Yet, he seemed to clash with head coach Deion Sanders, who didn’t seem at all happy when he left.
Florida might be tough to beat for McClain. NIL is likely to be a factor. However, McClain might be looking for the best football situation. Michigan has elite talent in the secondary and upfront on the D-line. It’s a great situation which makes the Brooks decision even more curious.
It seems like the pursuit is in the early stages but with Florida trending as the favorite, Michigan needs to make a push, if it’s going to make one. I’m not sure if it would be the right move. It feels like a bet on talent that could jeopardize the culture but if there is mutual interest, a visit to explore things might not be a bad thing.
However, it might be too late for that and the fact that Michigan would even target McClain shows how desperate the Wolverines are for cornerback depth.
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