Records of the Oldest NCAA Football Players

College football is often considered a young man's game, dominated by teenagers and those in their early twenties. However, there have been exceptions to this rule, with players participating well into their late twenties, thirties, and even beyond. These older athletes often bring unique stories of perseverance, personal fulfillment, and a deep love for the game. This article explores the remarkable records of some of the oldest players to ever grace the NCAA football field.

The Evolving Landscape of College Football

The world of college football is constantly changing. Factors such as updated transfer rules, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, and the lingering effects of the 2020 COVID season have created opportunities for athletes to extend their careers. Sixth-year seniors are becoming more common, and in the recent years, the emergence of ninth-year seniors has further blurred the lines of what is considered a typical college football player. These changes have led to athletes playing well into their late 20s and even 30s.

Legends of the Gridiron: Pioneers of Age

While the current landscape sees older players due to extended eligibility, a few individuals have shattered age barriers, leaving an enduring legacy. Their stories are not just about playing football but about pursuing dreams, overcoming obstacles, and inspiring others.

Joe Thomas Sr.: A Promise Fulfilled

Joe Thomas Sr. holds the record as the oldest known college football player in NCAA history. He played for Oberlin College at the age of 55 during the 2018 season. Unlike professional leagues, the NCAA does not impose an age limit on student-athletes. Thomas returned to college to fulfill a promise to his mother to earn his college degree and to set an example for perseverance and lifelong learning.

Alan Moore: A Vietnam Veteran's Return

Alan Moore became the oldest college football player ever when he joined Faulkner University’s team. At 61 years old, Moore walked onto the gridiron and launched the ball through the uprights for the Faulkner Eagles’ first extra point of the season. Hailing from Mt. Olive, Mississippi, Moore was a freshman for the Jones College Bobcats before leaving to serve in the military in Vietnam. Following his commitment, Moore returned home and began a career in construction. While visiting his grandkids, Moore returned to his old stomping ground and was inspired to return to the field. Constructing a goalpost in his daughter’s yard, Moore spent hours honing his skills. Clad in his old-school square-toe cleats, Moore kicked field goals for a team that finished 0-9.

Tom Thompson: Making History at Austin College

In 2009, Tom Thompson was a graduate student at Austin College in Sherman, Texas and made history when he played in a football game. Thompson only played in that one game that season and ended up scoring the extra point for Austin College’s only touchdown in the game. While Alan Moore played a college football game, Thompson holds the record for being the oldest NCAA collegiate football player ever (Moore played for an NAIA school). Thompson, who was a graduate student at the time, made his college football debut nearly 50 years after he last played organized football as a high schooler in the early ‘60s. The 61-year-old Vietnam veteran is considered one of the oldest college football players of all time.

Mike Flynt: A Second Chance on the Field

Before his record was broken by Tom Thompson, Mike Flynt was known as the oldest NCAA collegiate football player in history. At the age of 59, Flynt re-enrolled at his alma mater, Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, to play one more year of football. Unlike some of the oldest players on this list, Flynt was in exceptional physical shape as he had stayed fit while working as a strength and conditioning coach at Nebraska, Oregon, and Texas A&M universities. In 1965, Mike Flynt was part of the Permian Panthers’ first state championship team. Four years later, he suited up for the Sul Ross State Lobos. Fast forward, when Flynt and several of his former teammates got together at a class reunion, where the conversation came around to his biggest regret. With the help from his former coach Jerry Larned, Flynt proved to Lobos head coach Steve Wright that he could still play at the college level.

Tim Frisby: An Army Ranger's Transition

Tim Frisby may not have been quite as old as most of the other players on this list, but he was 39 years old when he walked into football tryouts for the University of South Carolina in 2004. Nicknamed “Pops” by his teammates, Frisby tried out as a walk-on for the Gamecocks after serving as an Army Ranger. Frisby played as a wide receiver for the University of South Carolina until when he was 40 years old. His time playing football garnered a lot of attention and Frisby even contemplated turning his life story into a movie.

Modern-Day Veterans: The New Wave of Older Players

The trend of older players in college football continues. Here are a few examples of players who have recently made headlines for their age:

Monte Harrison: From Baseball Diamond to Football Field

As for Division I college football players, Monte Harrison is one of the oldest. A decade after signing with Nebraska out of Lee’s Summit West High School in Missouri, Harrison is set to embark on his long-awaited college football journey. Harrison’s path to the gridiron was anything but conventional. Instead of pursuing a dual-sport career at Nebraska, where he had committed, Harrison chose to go straight into professional baseball. Over the next 10 years, he played in the Brewers, Miami Marlins, and Los Angeles Angels organizations. When Harrison’s second stint with the Brewers ended in September, he turned the page on his baseball career and revisited his football aspirations. Arkansas brought him in as a walk-on receiver in May.

Read also: Ranking of Oldest Universities

James Stefanou: An Australian Kicker's Journey

At 33 years of age, James Stefanou of the University of Colorado Boulder was the oldest active football player until he retired from the team. Stefanou, who is originally from Australia, had never played in organized American football before joining his school’s team. Although Stefanou did not grow up playing American football, he has always been an athlete. While he had some training for American football through ProKick Australia, Stefanou had never played the North American game before arriving at the Boulder campus. Stefanou became the team’s primary placekicker for his first three seasons.

Matt Ganyard: A Late Bloomer

Matt Ganyard, at the age of 34, is one of the oldest college football players ever and the oldest active football player. Back , he tried out for a team during his undergraduate years, but he didn’t make the cut.

Austin Aune: A Two-Sport Star

At the age of 29, Austin Aune will make history as the oldest QB to start in a bowl game.A two-sport athlete in high school, he played 6 years of MiLB baseball before pursuing football. Growing up in Argyle, Texas, Aune was a two-sport star, excelling at both football and baseball. Then the “Evil Empire” stepped in and threw a monkey wrench into Aune’s plans. However, after six years in the Yankees minor league system, it was obvious that professional baseball wasn’t in the future for Aune. After redshirting as a freshman, Aune earned his way to QB1 status during his junior season.

Tom Hutton: From Australia to Oklahoma State

Being a married, 29-year-old freshman on Oklahoma State’s football team isn’t just an adjustment for punter Tom Hutton. Tom Hutton played Australian rules football in his homeland of Newborough, Australia before taking a job at a paper mill. While the COVID pandemic gave players an extra year of eligibility, Hutton - who finished his senior year at the age of 32 - graciously passed on the opportunity, claiming, “I’m not taking it.

The Motivations Behind the Comebacks

These older players are driven by a variety of factors. Some, like Joe Thomas Sr., seek to fulfill lifelong dreams of earning a college degree. Others, like Mike Flynt, want to rewrite their past and overcome regrets. Still others, like Alan Moore, find inspiration in their families and communities to pursue their passions. Regardless of their individual reasons, these athletes share a common thread: a deep love for the game and a desire to prove that age is just a number.

Lessons from the Gridiron: Inspiration for All Ages

The stories of the oldest NCAA football players offer valuable lessons for people of all ages. They demonstrate the importance of perseverance, the power of dreams, and the ability to overcome obstacles. These athletes remind us that it is never too late to pursue our passions and that age should not be a barrier to achieving our goals. As Tom Thompson so eloquently put it, "It's never too late to live your best life."

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