Although being in your late 30s and 40s in the NFL isn’t unheard of and is, in fact, becoming increasingly common, playing college football at this age is a rarity. The players on the list of the 8 oldest college football players by bestsoccertips are all in their 60s or 50s, old enough to be their teammates’ grandparents! However, all of these players have defied the odds and played at least one game of football while attending college later in life.
Top 8 oldest players in college football
8. James Stefanou
The oldest player at 33 years old attended the University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, Colorado. He played from 2017 to 2020 as a kicker.
At the age of 33, James Stefanou of the University of Colorado Boulder was the oldest active football player in 2020 until he retired. Stefanou, originally from Australia, had never played in organized American football before joining the school’s team in 2017. He had some experience playing American football for ProKick Australia, helping Australian athletes develop the necessary skills to transition to American universities and the NFL.
Although Stefanou didn’t grow up playing American football, he was always an athlete. Stefanou played soccer and was part of the U19 team, a youth development team and the reserve team for Australia’s Olympic team.
7. Matt Ganyard
At 34 years old, Matt Ganyard stands as one of the most seasoned college football players in recent memory, demonstrating remarkable longevity in the sport. Having pursued his academic aspirations at the UVA Darden School of Business in Virginia, he embarked on his collegiate football journey in 2023 as a kicker, marking over a decade since completing his degree at the same university in 2011.
Ganyard’s path to the gridiron was not without its challenges; despite an unsuccessful attempt to walk onto a college team in 2009, he persevered, ultimately serving as a helicopter pilot in the United States Marine Corps before rekindling his passion for football at the University of Virginia, where he assumed the role of a first-year kicking specialist after a hiatus spanning 16 years since his high school football days.
6. Tim Frisby
The oldest player when he played was 40 years old and attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. He played in 2005 as a wide receiver.
Tim Frisby might not be as old as most other players on this list, but he was 39 when he walked onto the football tryouts for the University of South Carolina in 2004. Frisby remained in top physical condition after serving as a U.S. Army Ranger in the First Gulf War and in Kosovo.
Frisby played as a wide receiver for the University of South Carolina until 2005 when he was 40 years old. His time on the field garnered much attention, and Frisby even contemplated turning his life story into a movie. In his most recent update in 2014, Frisby is working as a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym.
5. Bob Schembre
The oldest player was 52 years old and attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. He played in 2008 as a defensive back. There isn’t much information available about Bob Schembre – for whatever reason his story didn’t make it to any major news outlets – but he joined Westminster College’s football team in 2008 when he was 51 (he turned 52 later that year).
Schembre’s two sons had previously played football for Westminster, and Schembre arranged a meeting with the coach with the intention of talking about his sons. However, Schembre told the coach that he wanted to play for the school. The coach gave Schembre a chance, and he eventually made it onto the team.
Unlike other players on this list, Schembre had never played organized football, but he had served in the Navy and remained relatively fit.
4. Joe Thomas Sr
The oldest player when he played was 55 and attended South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. He played in 2016, holding the position of running back. Joe Thomas Sr., father of the Dallas Cowboys’ Joe Thomas Jr., is the oldest player to play NCAA Division I football. Thomas played in 2016 for South Carolina State University at the age of 55. In the game, Thomas, a running back, carried the ball three yards.
Thomas grew up near South Carolina State University and always wanted to play college football. Although Thomas had played in high school and was a promising running back, he couldn’t play when he was young. When Thomas Jr. enrolled in school, Thomas Sr. decided he would also play alongside his son.
Unfortunately, despite both making the team, they never had the chance to play together as Thomas Sr. was injured in a car accident. After several years of recovery, Thomas Sr. finally got the opportunity to play college football.
3. Mike Flynt
The oldest player to compete was 59 years old and attended Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. He played in 2007, taking on the position of a defensive back. Before his record was surpassed in 2009 by Tom Thompson, Mike Flynt was the oldest known NCAA college 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 football for one more year. Flynt stated that he always regretted being kicked off the team – for getting involved in some on-campus fights – before his senior year of college.
Unlike some of the oldest players on this list, Flynt may have had an edge due to his exceptional physicality from his time serving as a strength and conditioning coach at Nebraska, Oregon, and Texas A&M universities. Knowing he was still eligible to play at Sul Ross State, Flynt tried out and was admitted to the team.
2. Tom Thompson
The oldest player to play was 61 years old and attended Austin College in Sherman, Texas. He played in 2009 as a kicker. In 2009, Tom Thompson was a graduating senior at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and made history by playing a football game at the age of 61. Thompson played only one game that season and ultimately scored additional points with Austin College’s only extra point kick of the game. Before the 2009 game, the last time Thompson played organized football was nearly 50 years prior when he was still in high school.
While Alan Moore played one college football game in 2011, Thompson holds the record as the oldest NCAA college football player to date (Moore played for an NAIA school). Thompson detailed his achievements and life in his autobiography titled “Kick Start.”
1. Alan Moore
The oldest player to play was 61 years old and attended Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. He played in 2011 as a kicker. Alan Moore became the oldest college football player to date when he joined Faulkner University’s team at the age of 61. Moore scored an extra point in the opening game of the 2011 season, helping Faulkner take the lead in the early second half of the game.
Moore had previously played college football in 1968 at Jones College in Mississippi. However, Moore had to enlist and serve in the military for a year during the Vietnam War. After the war, Moore worked in the construction industry for many years before the economy collapsed in 2009.
With more time on his hands, Moore decided he wanted to give football another shot after watching a game at Jones College with his grandchildren. A coach at Holmes Community College allowed Moore to play for the school, and Moore later transferred to Faulkner University, where he established the team.
Conclude
In summary, the stories of Mike Flynt, Tom Thompson, and Alan Moore showcase the extraordinary resilience and determination of individuals who pursued their passion for football despite their advanced ages. These remarkable athletes defied expectations and overcame obstacles to fulfill their dreams of playing college football, leaving an enduring legacy in the annals of the sport’s history. Their inspiring journeys serve as a testament to the timeless allure of football and the unwavering spirit of those who refuse to let age or adversity hinder their pursuit of greatness.
See more: Top 10 oldest football players: Defying age in the beautiful game
