Oregon tight end Cam McCormick scores his only career touchdown against Utah last season.

This fall camp has gone a little different than the one a year ago for redshirt sophomore tight Cam McCormick.

Last August, McCormick split time between the second and third team offense, as he came off his redshirt year in 2016. Now, just 12 months later, he's spent the majority of the time with the ones, and has one year of collegiate experience at his back.

“[My confidence] is a lot higher," he told reporters following Thursday's practice. "I got the jitters out last year. This year, I’m hitting the ground running. I’m comfortable, and I’m excited."

He's unseated last year's starter Jacob Breeland in camp in part by his hard work, but also due to a back injury that has slowed Breeland since the 2017 season (more on that here). Either way, McCormick, a 6-foot-5 Bend native with 89 career receive yards to his name, has made the most of his time with the top team.

Much of that growth was achieved this offseason, as he spent time working with quarterback Justin Herbert to build their "connection" in the passing game. He's accomplished that through frequent pass-and-catch sessions, but also through a service trip to Uganda this summer.

“Being over there and not really having cell phones, you had to really kind of bond together and get to know each other," McCormick explained. "It was great to just sit down with him and get a stronger bond with him."

McCormick hopes that bond forged in the sweltering heats of Africa this summer will materialize on the field as well.

Despite having run with the first-team through six consecutive fall camp practices, McCormick recognizes that no finish line has been crossed, and that not much stock can be placed into where a player sits on the "organizational chart" in the first week of August.

"It’s fall camp, we’ve got a long ways to go before the season even starts," he said. "I just go out there and compete and bust my butt. It will work itself out over fall camp."

As things stand right now, he holds the edge over Breeland, and fellow returner Ryan Bay, along with newcomers Kano Dillon (a grad transfer from South Florida) and Spencer Webb (a touted prep recruit).

Both new additions have "busted their butts" so far in camp, he says. The challenges both players are going through are very relatable to McCormick. Dillon must now learn a new offense after spending the first portion of his year across the country with the Bulls, while Webb has to familiarize himself not only with the playbook, but also the student-athlete lifestyle and the ascension in quality of opponent.

“When you come in freshman year, it’s a change," McCormick said of Webb. "You’re not blocking high school guys. Everyone is just as good as you are.

"I know that he might not think it in his head, but he’s doing a great job. He’s playing college football now. That’s big for him... It’s going to take time. He’ll be there. He’s doing a great job."

Oregon will complete its seventh practice of fall camp on Friday in Eugene. The team will then have two days off over the weekend before the begin again on Monday.