Former Oregon high school football star Cam McCormick granted 9th year of college eligibility

"It's tough, but hopefully ... guys who get injured can see my journey and dig deep within and keep pushing toward their goals and their future”

Cam McCormick is coming back for an unprecedented ninth year of college football.

The Miami Hurricanes tight end announced the news Thursday on X (formerly Twitter), declaring that “the pursuit of excellence has no goal line.” 

McCormick, 25, was a standout at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon, and signed with the University of Oregon as a three-star recruit in 2016. He was part of the same Ducks signing class as quarterback Justin Herbert from Sheldon (Eugene, Oregon) — now a four-year NFL veteran. McCormick joined former Oregon coach Mario Cristobal in Miami last year.

Four injury-wrecked seasons, combined with his redshirt year and the COVID campaign of 2020, allowed McCormick to petition the NCAA for one last season of eligibility in 2024.

He hopes his story of perseverance can serve as an inspiration to others.

“I feel like my journey can help those that have to experience (injuries and setbacks)," McCormick told ESPN. "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.”