Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
McCormick Wins Orange Bowl Courage Award
12/14/22 | Football
DALLAS — Oregon football tight end Cam McCormick was announced on Wednesday as the winner of the 21st annual Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Currently in his seventh season at UO, McCormick has bounced back from multiple season-ending injuries and overcome several family and personal struggles to play in every game this season for No. 15 Oregon.
"It is extremely humbling to be selected for the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award," McCormick said. "I am full of emotion and gratitude to be this year's recipient, as there were so many deserving nominees. Without the insurmountable support I've received over the years from my family, friends, teammates, coaches, support staff, and most importantly the training staff, I wouldn't have had the courage to continue to persevere and overcome so many challenges throughout the years.
"I need to give a special shout out to the journalists who took interest in my story and invested the time to tell it to others. Everyone has played an instrumental role in my journey and this award represents all of us. I am genuinely and deeply honored."
McCormick has battled injuries throughout his career at Oregon, missing the majority of four seasons since he arrived in the fall of 2016. The Bend, Ore., native redshirted his first season after tearing his ACL during his senior season at Summit High School. After playing in all 13 games in 2017, McCormick suffered a broken fibula and a torn deltoid ligament in the opening game of the 2018 season. Those injuries required three surgeries and forced him to miss the rest of the 2018 season, along with the entire 2019 and 2020 seasons.
McCormick returned to action in 2021, and made a key 16-yard reception for a first down on a 3rd-and-8 play in Oregon's historic road upset of No. 3 Ohio State in the second game of the season. The catch ended up being McCormick's first and only of the season, as he tore his Achilles on the play and was forced to miss the rest of the season.
After being granted a seventh year of eligibility, McCormick returned to make a career-high nine catches for 64 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games this season. In his career, McCormick has 17 catches for 167 yards and four touchdowns in 28 games.
"We couldn't be more proud of Cam," head coach Dan Lanning said. "He has been through so much both on and off the field throughout his life, and has never given up or stopped fighting to reach his goals. His ability to persevere and overcome hardship while always maintaining a positive attitude is truly inspiring. Cam is a great role model and a tremendous leader for our football team. He works hard and always treats people the right way, a testament to how he was raised by his mom, Deb, and his support system. He is a true Man of Oregon and is incredibly deserving of this honor."
Lanning is the fourth different head coach McCormick has played for at Oregon, and tight ends coach Drew Mehringer is his fourth different position coach. McCormick has had 377 total teammates while with the Ducks, including 21 fellow tight ends.
McCormick was very close with fellow tight end Spencer Webb, who died tragically in a climbing accident last July. McCormick spoke at his fallen teammate's celebration of life, and he wore Webb's No. 18 jersey during the Ducks' 2022 home opener vs. Eastern Washington, when he scored his first touchdown since the 2017 season.
"Cam McCormick embodies what the Courage Award is all about," former FWAA President Matt Fortuna said. "The injuries alone that he has had to deal with would have wrecked a lesser man. The grace with which Cam has handled all that life has thrown his way, both on and off the field, makes him an exceptional honoree amid a field of so many admirable individuals."
Off the field, McCormick is estranged from his biological father, drifting apart after he and his mother moved across the country and back when he was a child. He has not spoken to his father since he enrolled in college in 2016. McCormick also overcame an auditory processing challenge to graduate early from high school and has earned two degrees from Oregon.
Click here for an in-depth article by James Crepea of the Oregonian detailing McCormick's journey and the struggles he has overcome both on and off the field.
The Courage Award was first presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2002. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship. McCormick will be included in festivities during Capital One Orange Bowl week and recognized during the game.
McCormick is the first individual player to win the award since 2018, and the first individual Oregon or Pac-12 student-athlete ever to receive the honor. Utah won the award as a team in 2021.
"It is extremely humbling to be selected for the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award," McCormick said. "I am full of emotion and gratitude to be this year's recipient, as there were so many deserving nominees. Without the insurmountable support I've received over the years from my family, friends, teammates, coaches, support staff, and most importantly the training staff, I wouldn't have had the courage to continue to persevere and overcome so many challenges throughout the years.
"I need to give a special shout out to the journalists who took interest in my story and invested the time to tell it to others. Everyone has played an instrumental role in my journey and this award represents all of us. I am genuinely and deeply honored."
McCormick has battled injuries throughout his career at Oregon, missing the majority of four seasons since he arrived in the fall of 2016. The Bend, Ore., native redshirted his first season after tearing his ACL during his senior season at Summit High School. After playing in all 13 games in 2017, McCormick suffered a broken fibula and a torn deltoid ligament in the opening game of the 2018 season. Those injuries required three surgeries and forced him to miss the rest of the 2018 season, along with the entire 2019 and 2020 seasons.
McCormick returned to action in 2021, and made a key 16-yard reception for a first down on a 3rd-and-8 play in Oregon's historic road upset of No. 3 Ohio State in the second game of the season. The catch ended up being McCormick's first and only of the season, as he tore his Achilles on the play and was forced to miss the rest of the season.
After being granted a seventh year of eligibility, McCormick returned to make a career-high nine catches for 64 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games this season. In his career, McCormick has 17 catches for 167 yards and four touchdowns in 28 games.
"We couldn't be more proud of Cam," head coach Dan Lanning said. "He has been through so much both on and off the field throughout his life, and has never given up or stopped fighting to reach his goals. His ability to persevere and overcome hardship while always maintaining a positive attitude is truly inspiring. Cam is a great role model and a tremendous leader for our football team. He works hard and always treats people the right way, a testament to how he was raised by his mom, Deb, and his support system. He is a true Man of Oregon and is incredibly deserving of this honor."
Lanning is the fourth different head coach McCormick has played for at Oregon, and tight ends coach Drew Mehringer is his fourth different position coach. McCormick has had 377 total teammates while with the Ducks, including 21 fellow tight ends.
McCormick was very close with fellow tight end Spencer Webb, who died tragically in a climbing accident last July. McCormick spoke at his fallen teammate's celebration of life, and he wore Webb's No. 18 jersey during the Ducks' 2022 home opener vs. Eastern Washington, when he scored his first touchdown since the 2017 season.
"Cam McCormick embodies what the Courage Award is all about," former FWAA President Matt Fortuna said. "The injuries alone that he has had to deal with would have wrecked a lesser man. The grace with which Cam has handled all that life has thrown his way, both on and off the field, makes him an exceptional honoree amid a field of so many admirable individuals."
Off the field, McCormick is estranged from his biological father, drifting apart after he and his mother moved across the country and back when he was a child. He has not spoken to his father since he enrolled in college in 2016. McCormick also overcame an auditory processing challenge to graduate early from high school and has earned two degrees from Oregon.
Click here for an in-depth article by James Crepea of the Oregonian detailing McCormick's journey and the struggles he has overcome both on and off the field.
The Courage Award was first presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2002. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship. McCormick will be included in festivities during Capital One Orange Bowl week and recognized during the game.
McCormick is the first individual player to win the award since 2018, and the first individual Oregon or Pac-12 student-athlete ever to receive the honor. Utah won the award as a team in 2021.
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