One Last Ride: Miami TE to Return for Ninth and Final College Football Season

College football players keep pushing the limits of eligibility with the additional year that 2020’s COVID-shortened season allowed, regular redshirts, medical redshirts, etc. 

The most recent examples include Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman, who was granted a seventh season of eligibility by the NCAA and Jack Tuttle, who is seeking the same at Michigan. 

Then there’s what Cam McCormick is doing at Miami. The tight end, who turns 26 in April, announced on Thursday that he will return to the Hurricanes for what will be his ninth season of college football. 

McCormick’s college career began in 2016. As The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman points out, he was in the same high school recruiting class as Rashan Gary and Nick Bosa–who are playing their fifth NFL seasons–and Jalen Hurts, who just finished his fourth pro campaign. 

Appreciate all of the support! #84Resilient #GoCanes pic.twitter.com/KKYlI2jO8P

— Cam (@McCormick_Cam) January 18, 2024

How did McCormick get to this point? Next season will be only his fourth full year on the field. He redshirted as a freshman at Oregon in 2016 and missed nearly all of the 2018-20 seasons with a broken ankle and subsequent surgeries. In 2021, he tore his right Achilles tendon. That injury and the extra season granted because of COVID provided two additional seasons of eligibility. 

Last season, McCormick appeared in 13 games for Miami, catching eight passes for 62 yards. 

“Cam is an amazing young man of service, a great athlete, hard worker, and a natural-born leader,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said in a statement, via USA Today. “His return is a testament to his character and the values he brings to our team. We are excited to have him back for the upcoming season.”