Oregon tight end granted ninth year of NCAA eligibility

Oregon Ducks tight end Cam McCormick has been granted an almost unbelievable ninth year of NCAA eligibility, but he remains undecided if he will return for another season with the program.

He was granted another year of eligibility after tearing his Achilles during the 2021 season. 

He first arrived at Oregon during the 2016 season but has missed significant time throughout his career due to the Achilles injury, a serious ankle injury that cost him three years between 2018-21, and also being one of three Oregon players that was diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis following intense workouts. 

He is not viewed as a top NFL prospect, and during all of his time at Oregon has caught just 17 passes.

The 2022 season turned out to be his best with nine catches for 64 yards and three touchdowns,

Here is what he had to say to OregonLive about potentially returning for another year. 

“I’ve thought about it; it’s a tough decision,” McCormick said after Friday’s practice. “I’m not totally keen on what my decision is going to be yet. I’m going to continue to enjoy this game with my teammates and make the decision after the game. ... I couldn’t imagine doing nine. If anything, I applied for it just to have it after Ohio State last year. I tore my Achilles and thankfully was able to get it. The option’s there, I do have it. Whether I use it, it’s in the air. Thinking about returning for a Year 8.”

It is just such an extreme sequence of events that could lead to a ninth-year of eligibility that makes it so unbelievable to hear.

Some of the players that were part of McCormick's recruiting class include Lamar Jackson, Ed Oliver, Nick Bosa, Brian Burns, Mecole Hardman, and Michael Pittman Jr. All of those guys have been in the NFL for multiple years, with many going on to be Pro Bowl caliber players already.