Age is but a social construct for Miami tight end Cam McCormick.
The Power 5 veteran has been a fixture in college football for nearly a full decade. His odyssey in the collegiate game is set to continue in 2024, too: McCormick was granted a waiver to return to the Hurricanes for a whopping ninth season on Thursday.
Appreciate all of the support! #84Resilient #GoCanes pic.twitter.com/KKYlI2jO8P
— Cam (@McCormick_Cam) January 18, 2024
Between 2017-'23, McCormick has gotten the opportunity to turn out for two of the nation's biggest programs, but his actual time on the field has been limited by factors not of his own doing. It seems the NCAA is working to give him one more chance to bask in the spotlight.
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With that, here's everything you need to know about McCormick, his injury history, and his production throughout his lengthy career.
How old is Cam McCormick?
McCormick is 25, but he'll turn 26 in April, making him one of the oldest players in college football. That's probably not as old as you'd expect for a ninth-year senior. Still, he'll undoubtedly be expected to bring an air of leadership to Mario Cristobal's squad in 2024.
Why Cam McCormick was granted eligibility for a ninth-year
McCormick's playing career has been halted at various points by a series of unfortunate events. He originally enrolled at Oregon in 2016, but he was redshirted as a true freshman. He then played 13 games with the Ducks as a reserve in '17 before suffering a broken leg in '18 that ended his year.
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The maladies kept on coming for McCormick, who was kept off the field for the whole of 2019 and '20 due to complications from his '18 leg break.
He returned to the gridiron in 2021 but played in just two games before going down with a foot injury.
McCormick was already offered six years' worth of eligibility after having an injury waiver accepted in 2019. He added a seventh year after the NCAA ruled all FBS players could play one additional season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, McCormick's body finally held up for a full year. He earned the Capital One Orange Bowl FWAA Courage Award for perseverance, making 13 appearances (six starts) for the 10-3 Ducks.
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McCormick opted to join former coach Mario Cristobal at Miami before the 2023 year. His move was bolstered by the announcement that McCormick would be offered an eighth- and ninth-year waiver on account of his injuries.
Things were steady for McCormick in 2023. However, he had to resubmit his waiver to the ACC ahead of the '24 year to ensure he was permitted to compete.
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McCormick told ESPN that he hopes to make it to the NFL one day. More than that, though, he's hoping his odyssey through injuries can serve as an inspiration for other athletes going through hardship.
"I feel like my journey can help those that have to experience that," McCormick said. "It's tough, but hopefully there's some inspiration there, and guys who get injured can see my journey and dig deep within and keep pushing toward their goals and their future."
Cam McCormick stats
Despite playing in parts of six different seasons, McCormick's stats are fairly scarce. Then again, it's hard to record much of anything when you're on the sideline for as much as McCormick has been. Maybe his ninth year on campus can prove prolific.
| Year | G | Rec | Yards | Y/Rec | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | 7 | 6 | 86 | 14.8 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 13 | 10 | 66 | 6.6 | 0 |
| 2023 | 13 | 8 | 62 | 7.8 | 0 |
| Totals | 36 | 26 | 231 | 8.9 | 1 |
How Cam McCormick's age compares to Jalen Hurts, Nick Bosa
McCormick was a member of the 2016 signing class, the same one that future NFL stalwarts Jalen Hurts, Nick Bosa, Ed Oliver, and Rashan Gary headlined. He's lasted far longer than his contemporaries in the collegiate game. He's a hair older than Hurts, having been born on April 2, 1998, four months before the Eagles' QB.
He's younger than Bosa, for what it's worth. San Francisco's sack-master was born on Oct. 23, 1997, a little more than five months before McCormick.
