Miami TE granted a ninth year (yes, you read that right) of college eligibility; assures this will be his "last ride"

[C-Man 27052]

Insanity: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/39337111/miami-te-cam-mccormick-granted-ninth-year-eligibility

No immediate word on whether Michael Penix or Bo Nix are rethinking plans to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Quote

Miami tight end Cam McCormick confirmed Thursday that he'd be returning to play for the Hurricanes in 2024 -- his ninth season of college football.

McCormick, who began his career at Oregon in 2016, missed significant parts of four different seasons due to injury, which along with his redshirt year and the COVID year of 2020, allowed him to petition the NCAA for an unprecedented ninth season of eligibility.

McCormick announced his return on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday with the tagline "the pursuit of excellence has no goal line," calling 2024 his "last ride."

"I'm blessed that it was me to go through it because a lot of people would have folded under the pressure -- both mentally and physically," McCormick told ESPN. "But it's pushed me to be a better person and teammate -- everything. I've learned so much from every year and everything I've had to overcome."

McCormick, 25, was originally a three-star prospect out of Bend, Oregon. He was part of the 2016 signing class at Oregon that included QB Justin Herbert, and a national class that included Nick Bosa, Ed Oliver, Rashan Gary and Jalen Hurts -- all now established NFL veterans.

McCormick redshirted as a true freshman in 2016 then played in 13 games as a reserve in 2017. Then came a string of injuries -- a broken leg in 2018 followed by complications that cost him 2019 and 2020, followed by a foot injury two weeks into the 2021 season. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility in 2019, had another added in 2020 when the NCAA gave an extra season to all FBS players.

In 2022, McCormick finally was able to play a full season, earning the Capital One Orange Bowl FWAA Courage Award for his perseverance, appearing in 13 games and making six starts. He was granted an eighth and ninth year of eligibility for 2023 before transferring to Miami where he was reunited with coach Mario Cristobal. He caught eight balls for 62 yards for the Hurricanes last season, but he had to resubmit his waiver to the ACC for the ninth year this offseason.

The ninth-year waiver was approved by the ACC, and McCormick said it was an easy decision to return, noting that his goal is to play in the NFL and, "I want to say I gave it my best opportunity and best shot."

McCormick acknowledged that critics have suggested he shouldn't still be playing, but he said he "isn't going to be cut short by what people are saying," and hopes his story will be an inspiration to other players battling injuries.

"I feel like my journey can help those that have to experience that," he 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."

 

[Hermanator 6944]

This dude's been in college football as long as Dak Prescott's been choking in the playoffs for the Cowboys. 

Quote

"I feel like my journey can help those that have to experience that," he 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."

No, people are just looking at you as a sideshow and kid who refuses to leave college. After next season no one will remember you existed. 

[Gene Parmesan 3993]

So does everyone just get unlimited waivers for injuries that cause you to miss the season?  I thought the old system was granting 1 extra year so 6 years to play 4 see Jordan Shipley.  Then with Covid I guess it changed to 7 to play 5.

[RexWilson 1341]

Tommy didn’t even go to college 9 years. 

[Js1 85109]

He was also one of the Ducks who ended up in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis in 2017 after some really grueling workouts

[Dennis Taylor 18706]

3 minutes ago, Hermanator said:

This dude's been in college football as long as Dak Prescott's been choking in the playoffs for the Cowboys. 

No, people are just looking at you as a sideshow and kid who refuses to leave college. After next season no one will remember you existed. 

 does he cross over into the Tony Romo era of choking in the playoffs for the Cowboys?

[Hermanator 6944]

If next year was his 10th year he would have. 

[immamac 42518]

Looks like a single injury/recovery took 3 years to heal/rehab from not multiple injuries in that stretch just a single really bad one. 

[TOR 5366]

3 minutes ago, RexWilson said:

Tommy didn’t even go to college 9 years. 

Was gonna say, mofo better be a fucking doctor by now.

[Fudge Nuggets 19151]

I wish I could have hung out in college for nine years.  That would have been awesome.

[Pam Cummings 9579]

Is this guy mentally handicapped? Need an answer to that question before i completely rip him.

[Js1 85109]

1 minute ago, Pam Cummings said:

Is this guy mentally handicapped? Need an answer to that question before i completely rip him.

He has a Bachelor's and a Master's. He was just screwed with injuries early on and lost so much eligibility. 

1 game in 2018
0 games in 2019 and 2020
2 games in 2021

[Pimphand 5597]

1 minute ago, Js1 said:

He has a Bachelor's and a Master's. He was just screwed with injuries early on and lost so much eligibility. 

1 game in 2018
0 games in 2019 and 2020
2 games in 2021

That looks like 4 medical redshirts dude needs to petition the NCAA for a 10th year (4 med red, 1 red, 1 covid, 4 years of playing)

[Helobious 9481]

24 minutes ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

I wish I could have hung out in college for nine years.  That would have been awesome.

People say this but I don’t know how practical it is. There was a party promoter type guy at my college that took like 2 classes a semester or something and was I think on year 5 or 6 of being a student. Everyone thought he was a loser/weirdo. He could only throw events at bars and night clubs because no one wanted him at any of the college parties.

[Steel Shank 9414]

Probably enjoys banging freshman gash.

"Barely Legal".   

(This according to a friend of mine)

[Modessit 5596]

He has a Bachelor's and a Master's. He was just screwed with injuries early on and lost so much eligibility. 
1 game in 2018
0 games in 2019 and 2020
2 games in 2021

That covers 6 years. He should be Dr. McCormick by the time he finishes next year.

[Jkwellborn 6653]

Looks like a single injury/recovery took 3 years to heal/rehab from not multiple injuries in that stretch just a single really bad one. 

Was it worse than drop foot? Because they weren’t handing out pensions for that.

[Bateshorn 9899]

 

Edited January 18 by Bateshorn

[deadshank 24651]

2 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

I wish I could have hung out in college for nine years.  That would have been awesome.

Nine years? That would be getting out early for some. 

[.45s 28]

He just about qualifies for a pension.  Also, he should have 2 or 3 masters, and MBA, and maybe a PhD by now.

[Fudge Nuggets 19151]

1 hour ago, .45s said:

He just about qualifies for a pension.  Also, he should have 2 or 3 masters, and MBA, and maybe a PhD by now.

He ain’t there to play school.

[nnm 36092]

6 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

I wish I could have hung out in college for nine years.  That would have been awesome.

[markstanco 12505]

I wish I could have hung out in college for nine years.  That would have been awesome.

Yea rubbing nickels to try to get a quarter wasn’t fun but everything else was.

[ImissWallyPryor 9045]

“Hold my beer.”

- Casey Thompson

[NorthLoop 14091]

I don't get the hate. Be a college athlete for 9 years and reap all the benefits? Fuck yeah why not? If the dude has made the most of the academic part and gotten a masters like someone said earlier, what's the problem? You telling me you wouldn't do the same? 

[Helobious 9481]

12 minutes ago, NorthLoop said:

I don't get the hate. Be a college athlete for 9 years and reap all the benefits? Fuck yeah why not? If the dude has made the most of the academic part and gotten a masters like someone said earlier, what's the problem? You telling me you wouldn't do the same? 

He’s a 26 years old sitting behind 19 and 20 year olds on the depth chart. He’s been a benchwarmer nobody for all 9 years of his career, sustaining a couple serious injuries and no doubt inflicting other serious damage to his body that will rear its head with age along the way. Yeah I’d like to think I’d have long moved on with my life after 5 years or so. 

[TexEx15 17481]

3 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

He ain’t there to play school.

Well it don’t seem like he’s there to play football either.

[NorthLoop 14091]

So if he had been good enough to go pro, he would've just magically been immune to the abuse of playing football until he was 26? 

 

How would you have moved on with your life? Would going to grad school and getting a masters be such a bad thing? 

[Hondo 661]

Eh, there are worse places for him to be than in school and on a football team.

Plenty of people delay jumping into the rat race until late 20s/early 30s, choosing instead to travel, "van life", or whatever the hell it is people do these days.  Sometimes it's immaturity and a refusal to grow up, but sometimes it's an honest philosophical belief that "there's plenty of time to work for the rest of my life; do epic stuff now while I don't have obligations like kids, etc."

I'm not saying I agree with it necessarily, but I get it.  Maybe he's just enjoying his continued education and being on a college football team while he still has the chance.

[NorthLoop 14091]

He's not even in his late 20's though. He's the same age that most people are in grad school. 

[Humpy 112]

4 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

He ain’t there to play school.

He played school just fine,  it was football he sucked at.

[Vermin 3042]

1 hour ago, NorthLoop said:

So if he had been good enough to go pro, he would've just magically been immune to the abuse of playing football until he was 26? 

 

How would you have moved on with your life? Would going to grad school and getting a masters be such a bad thing? 

A masters? He could have a PhD.

[YGIFS 19449]

Good to see Ron Weaver still getting work after all these years.  

[Lat22 3994]

What else is he going to be able to do with all of those tats?

[JMFP 1117]

IMO year limits on eligibility will be challanged before too long. These dudes earn NIL money now because they are college atheletes so someone's eventually going to argue the year limits aren't fair because it cuts off their NIL career.

[Js1 85109]

8 hours ago, B1G said:

He played school just fine,  it was staying healthy he sucked at.

fify

[Jkwellborn 6653]

IMO year limits on eligibility will be challanged before too long. These dudes earn NIL money now because they are college atheletes so someone's eventually going to argue the year limits aren't fair because it cuts off their NIL career.

At some point, the NIL money will dry up for an old ass that ain’t cutting it.

[Beau Vine 54001]

18 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

I wish I could have hung out in college for nine years.  That would have been awesome.

I did, but I came out with a Ph.D.

 

[Helobious 9481]

40 minutes ago, Js1 said:

fify

He hasn’t been good when he’s been healthy either. He has all of 18 catches the past 2 seasons combined. 

[Tex Long 4348]

10 hours ago, NorthLoop said:

I don't get the hate. Be a college athlete for 9 years and reap all the benefits? Fuck yeah why not? If the dude has made the most of the academic part and gotten a masters like someone said earlier, what's the problem? You telling me you wouldn't do the same? 

No hate here. If you gotta label it, make mine pity.

[Fudge Nuggets 19151]

4 hours ago, Jkwellborn said:

At some point, the NIL money will dry up for an old ass that ain’t cutting it.

He will get 100% of the AARP NIL offerings.

[Texzilla58 4717]

If he gets hurt he can come back for a tenth year, right?

[Gut Wagon 8052]

19 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

He ain’t there to play school.

Or much football, so far. Trying to get my head around how an over-25 guy with at least one multi-year injury issue is going to get a real shot at pro ball. But go for it, man. 

Edited January 19 by Gut Wagon

[Wally Fairway 5522]

On 1/18/2024 at 3:53 PM, Fudge Nuggets said:

I wish I could have hung out in college for nine years.  That would have been awesome.

hell there are coaches on some staffs that are younger than he is, and he could have teammates this year that were in elementary school when he played in his first college game

[conVINCEd 21468]

This place is fucking slipping.

 

[C-Man 27052]

He’s a 26 years old sitting behind 19 and 20 year olds on the depth chart. He’s been a benchwarmer nobody for all 9 years of his career, sustaining a couple serious injuries and no doubt inflicting other serious damage to his body that will rear its head with age along the way. Yeah I’d like to think I’d have long moved on with my life after 5 years or so. 

I’m not sure what to think now.