Oregon seventh-year tight end Cam McCormick will be among the players recognized during the team’s Senior Day ceremonies tonight at Autzen Stadium before the No. 12 Ducks take on No. 10 Utah.
McCormick, who has earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees, has an additional year of eligibility he stated he couldn’t envision utilizing unless it helps his prospects of reaching the NFL.
Entering his 27th career game played and 74th during his time with the program, McCormick has nine catches for 64 yards and three touchdowns this season. His final home game also comes against Utah, the team he scored his career touchdown against in 2017.
Over the course of his career at UO, which began in March 2016, McCormick has played for four head coaches, four offensive coordinators and four position coaches. He’s also had 377 teammates, a figure both logical given McCormick is the longest tenured player in program history and also stunning in its vastness and includes numerous players in the NFL now and some who have already retired.
Of that group, 21 of McCormick’s teammates were also tight ends. He shared his thoughts on each of them individually, and current teammates Terrance Ferguson, Patrick Herbert and Moliki Matavao collectively while reflecting on his college career.
“Ryan Bay was here when I got here in 2016 and there was him, Jake Breeland, Taylor Stinson, Evan Baylis, Pharaoh Brown and Johnny Mundt in the room,” McCormick said. “Those guys helped me become who I am today. When I first got here I didn’t really know much about college football. They kind of paved the way for me in some direction and then I had to figure it out throughout the upcoming years.
“As I got older I turned the room into something that I felt like I wanted the room to be as in the way that they left it. I didn’t really like the way they left it, so I wanted to change the way that the tight end room was now that I’m one of the older guys in the room. I feel like when you get to college football you’re a freshman, you’re a freshman. You feel like unwelcome sometimes. I feel like not that they left it in a bad way, those guys did a good job, I keep in contact with them to this day, but I want all those guys to come in and feel welcome. The tight end group is a close group and we can always count on each other outside of football, more than it’s just like a business. More like a lifelong friendship that we can have in the room with those guys.”
On Ferguson, Herbert and Matavao specifically, McCormick said he wanted to ensure their bond as a group was about more than football, especially after the passing of Spencer Webb in July.
“I could say a lot about the guys, how they helped me through the past couple of injuries and they’ve been there for me and obviously with the passing of Spencer we’ve grown even closer,” he said. “I can’t say enough great things about the three of them. They pushed me everyday to be a better person, be a better leader, be a better role model in the room.”
Below are McCormick’s 377 college teammates with his comments on each of the tight ends he played with.
A.J. Abbott, Bryan Addison, Jordan Adeyemi-John, Maceal Afaese, Brady Aiello, Preston Alford, Taylor Alie, Devon Allen, Ugo Amadi, Darrian Anderson, Kaulana Apelu, Kai Arneson, Robby Ashford, Popo Aumavae, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Gary Baker, Alex Bales, Darren Barkins, Adam Barry, T.J. Bass, Jeff Bassa, Luke Basso, Logan Bathke, Karsten Battles, Ryan Bay, Evan Baylis, Harrison Beattie, DJ Beckum, Chris Beedles, Kani Benoit, Trey Benson, Connor Berggren, Jeff Bieber, Bryce Boettcher, Anthony Booker, Paris Bostic, Andrew Boyle, Jacob Breeland, Brady Breeze, Drake Brennan. Doug Brenner, Isaiah Brevard, Trikweze Bridges, Eric Briscoe, DonJ’rael Brooks, Tony Brooks-James, Cole Brosterhaus, Anthony Brown, Pharaoh Brown, Jalen Brown, Keith Brown, Lachlan Bruce, Kyle Buckner, Brandon Buckner, Demetri Burch, Peter Burke, Braxton Burmeister, Avery Burt, Jay Butterfield, Ellis Bynum, Jacob Capra, Byron Cardwell Jr., Tanner Carew, Drayton Carlberg, Cody Carriger, Darren Carrington, Caleb Chapman, Matt Christman, Alfonso Cobb, Brison Cobbins, Justin Collins, Josh Conerly Jr., Chase Cota, Louie Cresto, Isaah Crocker, Tyrell Crosby, Gus Cumberlander, MJ Cunningham, Spencer Curtis, Noah Dahl, Austin Daich, Donovan Dalton, Valentine Daltoso, T.J. Daniel, Reggie Daniels, Daymon David, Jaylin Davies, Daewood Davis, Timon Davis, Josh Delgado, Ty Delgado, Jonathan Denis, Avante Dickerson, Kano Dillon, Sean Dollars, Brandon Dorlus, Troy Dye, Travis Dye, Ge’mon Eaford, Jamal Elliott, Zach Emerson, Casey Eugenio, Austin Faoliu, Andrew Faoliu, Ivan Faulhaber. Darrian Felix, Terrance Ferguson, Jahlil Florence, Justin Flowe, Jonathan Flowe, Jake Foggia, Alex Forsyth, Darrian Franklin, Troy Franklin, Royce Freeman, Jake Froehlich, Mase Funa, Brandon Gahagan, Elijah George, Billy Gibson, TJ Gilbert, Ben Gomes, Christian Gonzalez, Thomas Graham Jr., Riley Greene, Jared Greenfield, Taj Griffin, Tyree Griffin, Zach Grisham, Anthony Gutierrez, Kilohanna Haasenritter, Cyrus Habibi-Likio, Kahlef Hailassie, Jaren Hall, Alec Hallman, Malachi Hannah, Jake Hanson, Jordan Happle, Marcus Harper, John Harvey, Eddie Heard, Nate Heaukulani, Justin Herbert, Patrick Herbert, Damon Hickok, Jamal Hill, Jevon Holland, Justin Hollins, Noah Holmes, A.J. Hotchkins, Cameron Hunt, Will Hutchinson, Kris Hutson, Bucky Irving, Mike Irwin, Dave Iuli, Adrian Jackson, Devon Jackson, DJ James, Jordan James, Ross James, Jhet Janis, Dawson Jaramillo, Bailey Jaramillo, Tevin Jeannis, Jaylan Jeffers, Jalen Jelks, Michael Jennings, DJ Johnson, Johnny Johnson III, Andrew Johnson, Justin Johnson, Juwan Johnson, JJ Jones, Elijah Jones, Steven Jones, Jayson Jones, Anthony Jones, Travis Jonsen, Hunter Kampmoyer, Dylan Kane, Kyler Kasper, Henry Katleman, Canton Kaumatule, Sione Kava, John Keller, Sean Killpatrick, Taylor Koth, Jace Krier, Jordan Kurahara, Jarret LaCoste, Jackson LaDuke, Faaope Laloulu, Charlie Landgraf, Fotu Leiato, Shane Lemieux, Deommodore Lenoir, Devin Lewis, Camden Lewis, Jeff Lockie, Vincenzo Logan, Malik Lovette, Justius Lowe, La’Vaughn Luellen, Treven Ma’ae, Chayce Maday, KJ Maduike, Race Mahlum, Blake Maimone, Steven Maines, Austin Maloata, Dontae Manning, Michael Manns, Rex Manu, Matt Mariota, Moliki Matavao, Dru Mathis, Danny Mattingly, De’Quan McDowell, Seven McGee, Mattrell McGraw, Verone McKinley III, Darrian McNeal, Jabril McNeill, Devin Melendez, Sir Mells, Kirk Merritt, Cale Millen, Mike Miller, Jonah Miller, Dillon Mitchell, Davis Miyashiro-Saipaia, Jomah Moi, Henry Mondeaux, George Moore, Zac Morgan, Devin Morrow, Johnny Mundt, Dexter Myers, Tyler Nanney, Jaden Navarrette, Charles Nelson, Miguel Nevarez, Sampson Niu, Bo Nix, Lucas Noland, Alex Ofodile, Zach Okun, Khalil Oliver, Scott Pagano, Cristiano Palazzo, Cross Patton, Pou Peleti-Gore, Ryan Phillipo, Charlie Pickard, Nick Pickett, Jake Pisarcik, Isaiah Pitre, Mycah Pittman, Isaia Porter, Sua’ava Poti, Sam Poutasi, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Torrodney Prevot, Dakota Prukop, Cole Prusia, Johnny Ragin, Chris Randazzo, Von Reames, Jaylon Redd, Tyler Reid, Rutger Reitmaier, Jordon Riley, Tilman Ritchie-Tuisue, Ben Roberts, Tyree Robinson, Casey Rogers, Kawika Rogers, Lane Roseberry, Kanen Rossi, Micah Roth, Blake Rugraff, Malachi Russell, Ronnie Rust, Logan Sagapolu, Marcus Sanders, Aidan Schneider, Brendan Schooler, Jordon Scott, Chris Seisay, Penei Sewell, Noah Sewell, Cody Shear, Jake Shipley, Tyler Shough, Cooper Shults, Josh Simmons, Kieth Simms, Demarques Singleton, Dane Sipos, Isaac Slade-Matautia, Jaylen Smith, Aaron Smith, Tom Snee, Renoldo Spivey, Aarion Springs, Adam Stack, Dwayne Stanford, Spencer Stark, Jack Steil, Steve Stephens IV, Dominic Stephens, Jihree Stewart, Taylor Stinson, Langston Stuckey, Kingsley Suamataia, Charles Sudduth, Jimmie Swain, Bradyn Swinson, Harrison Taggart, Taki Taimani, Jonah Tauanu’u, Wayne Tei-Kirby, Khamari Terrell, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Ben Thiel, Ty Thompson, Dont’e Thornton, Calvin Throckmorton, Terrell Tilmon, Isaac Townsend, JJ Tucker, Jalil Tucker, Jake Van Dyne, Jack Vecchi, CJ Verdell, Marko Vidackovic, Evan Voeller, Bram Walden, Ryan Walk, Jalontae Walker, Tristen Wallace, Keyon Ware-Hudson, Dallas Warmack, JR Waters, Spencer Webb, Ian Wheeler, Holden Whipple, Noah Whittington, Nick Wiebe, Lance Wilhoite, Juwaan Williams, Korbin Williams, Devon Williams, Kristian Williams, Bennett Williams, Keanu Williams, Elijah Williams, Rayquan Williams, Trejon Williams, Terry Wilson, Jayvaun Wilson, La’Mar Winston, Emar’rion Winston, Kade Wisher, Matt Wogan, DJ Wong, Haki Woods, Michael Wooten, Mykael Wright, Max Wysocki, Bradley Yaffe, Peyton Yagani, Bryson Young, Malik Young, Cole Young, Jaren Zadio
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Ryan Bay: “He was definitely a hard worker. He took pride in what he did and he pushed me in the weight room a lot.”
Evan Baylis: “Evan Baylis got me through my first year here. He was my locker partner in the back of the locker room and he kind of helped me with a lot of learning the playbooks, understanding and helping me with the game of football when I first got up here.”
Jacob Breeland: “We had that friendly competition for a really long time, whether it was going to be him or me, but we understood that it was a competition at the end of the day we were making each other better. I was just at his wedding a couple of months ago. Aside from football we knew we were going to compete and the best man was going to get the opportunity that week and we came to practice every day pushing each other. Happy with whatever the results were because we knew we were both going to be used.”
Drake Brennan: “He was a big physical tight end. I only played with him for a little bit amount of time. He was a two-sport athlete; he was dedicated.”
Pharaoh Brown: “There’s a lot I took away from Pharaoh’s game with how physical he played. He liked to block but he was also great with the ball in his hands, yards after catch, catching the ball, he was a big body. For the longest time I felt like coming in as a freshman I hadn’t earned his respect and over the years I think that – he reached out to me after the Ohio State game and was like I’m here for you, call me let’s talk. I feel like I was able to earn his respect and coming in as a freshman that was never there. I felt like I really wasn’t as connected to Pharaoh as I would’ve liked to have been because to me he was a role model when I first got here because watching him play he was dominant.”
Peter Burke: “He reminds me a lot like Ryan Bay because he puts his head down and he does what he’s asked to do. He’s willing to do whatever the team needs him to do and he’s going to do it with 100% and he takes pride in what he does.”
Kano Dillon: “When Kano came into the room I wasn’t sure what to expect, obviously. I felt like at that time we had all the guys we needed in the room and we took another tight end and at the beginning you’re a little like, ‘Well dang he’s coming here to take our jobs.’ So you had a certain demeanor when you were out on the field. Obviously he was trying to take our spots, we were trying to keep our spots, so there was that competition there but Kano had talked to me a lot after getting hurt and kept telling me to keep my head up. He was there through that first year of injuries.”
Ivan Faulhaber: “He was willing to do whatever it was to help the team win. A total team guy and you can’t ask for more than people like that.”
Terrance Ferguson (see above)
Patrick Herbert (see above)
DJ Johnson: “He liked to block. He knew that his role was going to be being physical and he embraced that role and bounced around from defense to offense, did whatever he needed to do for the team to win. Funny character but that’s DJ.”
Hunter Kampmoyer: “That was my roommate for 2-3 years. I became really close with Hunter. We go out there everyday and we know that our bodies aren’t feeling the best but at the end of the day you still got to show up and you got to do it. You got to put in the time. He was a physical guy. He took pride in being physical. He still does to this day. That’s what he likes to do.”
Matt Mariota: “A guy that’s selfless. He did anything for the team when he was here. Whatever opportunities he was able to get he wanted to take. He just wanted to be on the field. He wanted to contribute as much as he could. I respect that grind.”
Moliki Matavao (see above)
Johnny Mundt: “Another one of those guys that I looked up to when I first got here. They had done a bunch of good things and coming from not really watching much college football I feel like those guys set an example for me of how I wanted to play, physical, I wanted to be a good pass catcher, good route runner. You see how successful he is today.”
Tyler Nanney: “It’s tough when you’re a walk-on and they recruit these guys to play tight end and you’re a walk-on in the room you’re waiting for your opportunity. I’m so glad that this year he was able to get in the game a little bit against Eastern Washington because we had talked about that. To make that happen for him, that’s awesome for our room.”
Cooper Shults: “He took advantage of his opportunity. He got that opportunity at Nevada and look at him, he’s over there I remember watching the first game and he started the game. That’s crazy. That shows you how much talent is in the tight end room here at Oregon because guys are leaving here and starting at other schools. That shows you how well we develop the guys here.”
Taylor Stinson: “He took me under his wing when he first got here. Helped me learn the playbook. One of those guys that are great off the field. Good people that you want to be around and relationships that you maintain over the years.”
Terrell Tilmon: “He’s getting a lot better. He’s been transitioning from defense so the first year is always different coming from defense to offense but he’s picking it up really well.”
Jalontae Walker: “He was here for a short time. That was I think we needed some depth at the position and he was able to help provide that, learn while he could.”
Spencer Webb: “I took Spence on his official visit when he first got here. He decided to come here and I felt like it fit him well in the offense that was at the time. Obviously he had grown a lot over the course of the years that he was here and we had become closer the past couple of years. We started off in a rocky start but that’s with any type of friendship there’s those problems. We kept our distance and we got closer again these past couple of years. He had grown so much playing the game. I remember all those times when I was injured and he was there texting me making sure I was OK knowing that I always had him and I was always there for him because things weren’t as easy for him on the field. He excelled in catching the football and running routes. You’ve seen him bounce around from wide receiver to tight end throughout those couple of seasons. When he was at tight end I tried to help him, keep him motivated to like man you could do this. I tried to help him with technique for blocking. I always tried to be there as much as I could to help him in order to stay on the field and be ready to go because if anybody at those times went down he was up, he had to be ready to go.”
