Miami tight end returning for unprecedented 9th season of college football

Modern college football is no stranger to players sticking around longer than usual.

But Miami’s Cam McCormick is taking things to a new level in 2024.

The tight end announced Thursday that he is returning to the school for an unprecedented ninth season of college football. And while that number may be jarring, McCormick has only actually played four seasons of college football.

He began his career at Oregon in 2016 when he redshirted before getting on the field for 13 games in 2017. He then suffered season-ending injuries in 2018, 2019, 2020 due to multiple surgeries for a broken ankle and 2021 due to a right Achilles tear.

He had 10 catches for 66 yards and three touchdowns at Oregon in 2022, his first full season without injury since his freshman year, and earned the Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award.

“I love my teammates, my coaches, and the University of Miami,” McCormick said, according to OregonLive, an MLive sister publication. “Despite the challenges, I want to finish what we started together. The bond we share is everlasting and makes it all worthwhile.”

He transferred to Miami in 2023 and had 8 catches for 62 yards while playing in all 13 games for the Hurricanes.”

For context, McCormick was in the same 2016 recruiting class as Justin Herbert, as well as multiyear NFL standouts like Rashan Gary, Nick Bosa and Jalen Hurts. The 25-year-old will now look to finish his college career on his own terms.

“Cam is an amazing young man of service, a great athlete, hard worker, and a natural-born leader,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said, according to OregonLive. “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.”

Miami, which stumbled to a 7-6 record and lost to Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl, opens its 2024 season against rival Florida on Aug. 31.