Experiencing a torn Achilles tendon is one of the most brutal and alarming injuries in sports. As the strongest tendon in the human body, it plays an essential role in walking, running, and jumping. Such an injury usually ends a player’s season and can take a whole year to heal. Many athletes struggle to return to their pre-injury form.

When Cam McCormick, a tight end at Oregon, tore his right Achilles tendon in 2021 during a game against Ohio State, he faced inevitable disappointment and uncertainty. However, despite the immediate shock, he found solace in the fact that it was his Achilles.

“When I figured out what it was, it was the best-case scenario for that injury,” McCormick explained to YSL News Sports. “That injury was one of the easiest ones I’ve had to go through because it was so straightforward.”

It’s hard to believe that an athlete could be so relaxed about a torn Achilles tendon. McCormick’s mother, Debra McCormick, even remarked that his recovery was “a piece of cake.”

Yet, McCormick is not an ordinary football player. Currently, he is part of the Miami Hurricanes team, embarking on his ninth season of college football in 2024, a feat considered unprecedented in NCAA history.

This remarkable achievement is certainly eye-catching. Nine seasons. It may invite jokes or reminders to leave college football behind, but McCormick’s journey has been one of persistent challenges, pain, and resilience.

“It’s crazy to reflect on everything I’ve faced,” said McCormick.

The beginning of a long journey

Hailing from Bend, Oregon, McCormick was a three-star tight end in the 2016 recruiting class, realizing his childhood dream by committing to play for the Oregon Ducks. His mother recalls that he had aspired to be part of the team since he was young.

However, during his senior year of high school, McCormick faced his first hurdle when he tore his ACL. While still recovering from this setback, he came into Oregon, where there were veteran tight ends on the depth chart, prompting him to redshirt the 2016 season.

After a year of recovery, McCormick was eager to make his mark in the 2017 season under new head coach Willie Taggart. Yet, come January, he found himself hospitalized along with two other players after exhausting workouts. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition where muscle tissue breaks down, often due to excessive activity without sufficient recovery time. This led to complications that could involve the kidneys or liver, prompting a suspension for the strength and conditioning coach and a lawsuit from one of the affected players.

Despite losing significant strength due to the rhabdomyolysis, McCormick persevered and managed to play in all 13 games of the 2017 season. He started two of those games, tallying six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Having gotten a taste of college football, McCormick looked forward to advancing in 2018. Unfortunately, tragedy struck again during the season opener against Bowling Green. In the second quarter, a defender fell onto the back of McCormick’s legs. When he attempted to get up, he quickly realized something was wrong. Carted off to the locker room, he was soon diagnosed with a broken left fibula and a torn ligament in his left ankle.

Just like that, another season was sidelined by injury.

Yet, McCormick remained hopeful, believing it merely meant another year of rehab before returning. Unbeknownst to him, this was just the beginning of a lengthy struggle that would last more than two years before he could participate in another game.

‘In pain every single second’

Pain began to haunt McCormick just before the fall camp of the 2019 season. It was the same ankle he had surgery on in 2018, and he found it difficult to engage in many football practices. After weeks of evaluations, doctors uncovered a new fracture caused by a screw that had been inserted into his ankle to promote healing with a suture through the bone.

Yet another surgery meant another lost season.

Despite the challenges, McCormick kept a positive mindset and leaned on his support system, especially his mother, who was nearby and frequently visited him during rehabs.

Feeling hopeful in the offseason and back in training for the shortened 2020 season, McCormick’s foot began to ache once more. Initially, doctors suggested it was likely tendonitis, a potential complication from the previous surgery, but he sensed that it might be more severe.

“Every single day I would wake up, I’d feel pain in my foot,” McCormick shared. “There wasn’t a moment I felt at ease or free from discomfort. It was relentless.”

That’s when the situation turned particularly bleak, as Debra recalled a day when her son called her post-practice, overwhelmed with emotion.

“He was sobbing. He felt utterly defeated and was seriously contemplating stepping away from football because he couldn’t bear the pain any longer. He was experiencing pain 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

The pain became unbearable, and McCormick made the tough decision to sit out the 2020 season. Debra felt powerless, struggling to find the right words to uplift her son and keep his spirits high.

In the past, she had suggested to him that it might be the right time to heed the warning signs and step away from the game, but that only led to disagreements. However, this situation felt different. She was resolute in preventing her son from abandoning his aspirations.

“As a mother, I just couldn’t accept it. I thought, ‘There has to be a solution,’” she recounted.

Eventually, McCormick discovered the source of his discomfort: two screws inserted to repair a previous injury were irritating his posterior tibial tendon, resulting in a complete tendon tear.

While searching for solutions, he came across a social media video featuring former NFL player Plaxico Burress, who praised Dr. Robert Anderson, now the team doctor for the Green Bay Packers, for his assistance with his ankle issues. McCormick found Dr. Anderson’s contact info and asked his mom to arrange a visit.

Through a team doctor at Oregon who had trained with Anderson, McCormick secured a consultation. He and his mother traveled to Wisconsin just before Christmas and received an early gift: Anderson was not only knowledgeable about treating his injury but also assured McCormick he would be ready to return to play by the 2021 season.

Hope was ignited anew, and he felt a rush of motivation.

“Cameron and I were both in tears,” Debra McCormick shared. “We shed tears of joy.”

The surgery was successful, and they flew home on Christmas Day. He was indeed prepared for the 2021 season and, after enduring pain and uncertainty for years, he played his first game against Fresno State, marking his return after 1,099 days.

In the next game at Ohio State, he made an impactful catch for a first down but unfortunately tore his Achilles tendon. Yet for McCormick, dealing with a season-ending injury was nothing new. He recovered his tendon and aimed to play in the 2022 season, but then faced another different challenge in July.

His close friend and teammate Spencer Webb tragically died in a diving accident at just 22 years old. Having shared many moments in the tight end room, McCormick said Webb would always hold a special place in his heart. This loss was McCormick’s first major heartbreak, and it deeply affected him, according to his mother.

Motivated to honor Webb’s memory, McCormick participated in all 13 games for the Ducks in 2022, completing his first full season since 2017. It was a remarkable season, as he achieved a career-high of 10 receptions and three touchdowns.

After experiencing a full season, McCormick felt he had accomplished everything he wanted at Oregon and sought a new beginning. He held no grievances against the program, but wanted to advance his career elsewhere.

McCormick entered the transfer portal, and one of the first to reach out was Mario Cristobal, the head coach for Miami, who had coached him at Oregon from 2018 to 2021. Despite the difficulties at Oregon, McCormick acknowledged how Cristobal had kept his passion for the game alive. Grateful for that support, McCormick decided to join the Hurricanes.

“He believed in me during times I doubted myself, when I thought I couldn’t continue,” McCormick expressed. “It would have been easy for him to say, ‘We don’t need you on the team anymore. Maybe you should think about retiring.’ But he always reassured me, ‘You’re going to come back even stronger. You’ve got this.’”

This past season, McCormick faced no challenges and participated in all 13 games, starting in 11.

‘Everyone’s journey is different’

McCormick possesses several years of eligibility due to medical redshirts, along with an additional year granted to all college athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When he revealed his intention to play in the upcoming season, he became the target of online jokes, with social media users mocking him for what they considered outrageous—playing a ninth season and telling him to “go get a real job.”

Both he and his mother have noticed this negativity.

“Many people make negative remarks about him, and he often becomes the subject of jokes. For a parent, reading that is quite disheartening,” Debra said. “We get direct messages containing some truly outrageous comments at times.”

While it may seem absurd for someone to participate in nine seasons of college football at first glance, delving deeper reveals a clearer perspective. McCormick emphasized that the 2024 season will be only his fourth season of actual play, owing to injuries. His mother humorously added, “We have our whole lives ahead to work full-time jobs, right?” Moreover, McCormick noted that he has substantially benefited from Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities.

“People criticize others’ journeys without comprehending the full story,” McCormick said. “They’ll say what they want, but that’s their choice, not mine. I’m here, living stress-free and enjoying my life. If someone feels the need to project negativity into my world, that reflects poorly on them.”

McCormick’s focus is now on the 2024 season, aiming to continue honoring Webb’s legacy while considering his future prospects, with his primary goal being to participate in every game this year. The Hurricanes not only aspire for an ACC title but also have a strong chance of qualifying for the expanded College Football Playoff. After this season, Debra hopes that her son’s determination will impress NFL scouts, showing them he is not one to back down and can perform at the next level.

“Cameron has faced numerous challenges, not just on the field but in life overall. He hasn’t had it easy, but he’s made the most of every situation he’s encountered,” Debra shared. “I’m truly amazed by my son. I look up to him.

“Yes, he has been knocked down. But guess what? He rose again every single time.”

Despite the hate he has received, she mentioned that he has also been a source of motivation for many, receiving messages from those who have faced their own difficulties, where he provides them with encouragement.

Therefore, Cam McCormick will return for a ninth season of college football. Even with all the hurdles, he feels thankful for the path that has brought him here.

“My experience might differ significantly from others, but I’m still standing. I’m still in the game, and I have no complaints,” McCormick stated. “I feel incredibly lucky and blessed. I appreciate all that I’ve been through because I’m still here, grounded, and wearing a smile.”