If you feel like you’ve been hearing the name Cam McCormick since the Obama administration, you aren't actually losing your mind. The guy has been around. Usually, when people ask how old is Cam McCormick, they expect a standard answer like 21 or 22—the typical age for a college athlete heading toward the pros.
But McCormick isn't typical.
Born on April 2, 1998, Cam McCormick is 27 years old as of early 2026. He celebrated his 27th birthday in the spring of 2025, just as his marathon college career finally transitioned into a professional role. For context, he’s older than several established NFL stars like Justin Jefferson, Micah Parsons, and Ja'Marr Chase. While those guys were winning Super Bowls and Pro Bowl nods, McCormick was still grinding away in a college weight room.
The Math Behind the 27-Year-Old "Student-Athlete"
So, how does a person stay in college for nine years? It sounds like a plot from a 90s comedy, but for McCormick, it was a grueling reality of medical setbacks. He enrolled at the University of Oregon all the way back in 2016. That was the year Lemonade dropped. It’s been a minute.
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Basically, his timeline is a mix of bad luck and NCAA bureaucracy:
- 2016: Redshirted as a true freshman.
- 2017: Played his first full season.
- 2018-2021: A nightmare loop of season-ending injuries (broken leg, torn deltoid ligament, torn Achilles).
- 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic granted everyone an extra year of eligibility, which he didn't even need at the time because he was already sidelined.
- 2022: Finally returned for a full season at Oregon.
- 2023-2024: Transferred to Miami for his eighth and ninth years.
Honestly, the tenacity is kind of inspiring. Most people would have hung up the cleats after the second or third major surgery. Instead, he kept filing paperwork with the NCAA, and they kept saying yes. By the time he suited up for the Hurricanes in late 2024, he was a 26-year-old ninth-year senior.
Why How Old is Cam McCormick Became a Viral Meme
Social media hasn't always been kind about his age. Whenever a Miami game aired, Twitter (or X) would light up with jokes about him being a "grandfather" on the field or having "tenure" at the university. People joked that he probably taught the classes he was enrolled in.
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But there’s a deeper side to the "how old is Cam McCormick" question. He used that time wisely. While most players leave with one degree if they're lucky, McCormick left college with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Communication and a Master’s in Advertising and Brand Responsibility from Oregon. He then continued his post-baccalaureate studies at Miami. He’s arguably one of the most educated players to ever step onto a football field.
Life After the "9th Year"
After his eligibility finally, finally ran out at the end of the 2024 season, McCormick didn't just disappear. He entered the 2025 NFL Draft cycle. While he went undrafted—likely due to a combination of his age and a massive injury history—his football IQ was too high for teams to ignore.
As of 2026, he has transitioned into the next phase of his career. He is currently working as a scouting assistant for the New England Patriots. It makes sense. If anyone knows the ins and outs of the collegiate system and what it takes to survive the grind, it’s him.
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What We Can Learn From the 27-Year-Old Rookie
The fascination with his age is mostly about the "weirdness" of college sports, but it also highlights a shift in how we view athletic careers. With NIL money and expanded eligibility rules, the "old" college player is becoming more common. Still, McCormick is the extreme outlier.
He didn't stay because he was a superstar making millions; he stayed because he loved the game and refused to let injuries dictate his exit. When you look at the facts, his 27 years represent a level of persistence that’s actually pretty rare in modern sports.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Track his scouting career: Keep an eye on the New England Patriots’ front office movements; players-turned-scouts often have a fast track to executive roles.
- Review NCAA eligibility changes: Understand that the "McCormick Rule" (extreme medical hardships) is being looked at more closely by the NCAA to prevent future decade-long stays.
- Compare longevity stats: Look at other "super seniors" in the 2025 and 2026 seasons to see if the trend of 25+ year-old players continues to rise in the NIL era.