How old is Miami tight end Cam McCormick?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic allowed college athletes an extra year of eligibility, we’ve seen some players staying in college longer than usual. With medical redshirts and other factors, some athletes are spending well beyond the typical four years in college sports.

Take Miami tight end Cam McCormick, for example. He’s entering his ninth season of college football in 2024, which is much longer than most players stay in the NCAA.

 

How old is Cam McCormick?

Cam McCormick, who was born on April 2, 1998, is now 26 years old and heading into his ninth college football season in 2024. A three-star recruit from the high school class of 2016, McCormick committed to the University of Oregon in 2015. He missed his senior year of high school due to a torn ACL and started at Oregon for the 2016 academic year.

Although McCormick is among the older players in college football this season, he’s not the oldest. That title goes to Monte Harrison, a freshman wide receiver at Arkansas who is 29. Harrison is returning to football after a career in professional baseball.

 

Cam McCormick’s college football eligibility, explained

NCAA rules generally allow players to compete for four seasons within a five-year window. If a player is granted a medical redshirt, they get an extra year to their five-year limit.

Cam McCormick’s journey has been marked by several setbacks and redshirts. He redshirted in 2016 to recover from a torn ACL he suffered in high school. His first full season was in 2017, where he played in all 13 games for Oregon.

However, his career faced significant interruptions. In the 2018 season opener, he broke his left fibula and deltoid ligament, which ended his season. Complications from surgery limited him to just three games in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic kept him out of the 2020 season.

McCormick worked hard to return in 2021 but tore his Achilles tendon early in the season. This injury led to him being granted a ninth year of eligibility, allowing him to play through the 2024 season.

He made a comeback in 2022, playing in 13 games for Oregon. After the season, he transferred to Miami, where he also played 13 games in 2023. Now, he’s gearing up for his ninth and final season of college football in 2024.