Age might be but a number, but it has taken on a real significance in the world of college sports, particularly college football.
While sports like basketball and soccer see young standouts emerge each year, college football is often different. Older players usually graduate or enter the NFL. However, a few elders remain in the sport, hoping to fulfill their football dreams before Father Time sends them on their way.
So, who are the oldest players in college football? Here's what you need to know.
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Who are the oldest college football players in 2025?
| Player | Position | Team | Age |
| Monte Harrison | WR | Arkansas | 30 |
| Billy Gowers | P | Hawai'i | 29 |
| Logan Taylor | LB | Hawai'i | 25 |
| John Emery Jr, | RB | UTSA | 25 |
| Jacob Zeno | QB | Texas A&M | 25 |
| Cade McNamara | QB | ETSU | 25 |
| Zach Calzada | QB | Kentucky | 24 |
Monte Harrison WR, Arkansas Razorbacks
Harrison is a renaissance man in the world of college football, having spent the first eight years of his career on the baseball diamond. Harrison was a second-round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft and was a part of the package that brought Christian Yelich from the Marlins to the Brewers in 2018.
A two-sport star in high school, Harrison committed to Nebraska to play football but never enrolled. In 2024, he joined Arkansas as a walk-on wide receiver. He spent much of his first season on special teams, and his experience as a centerfielder is believed to have given him an opportunity to be a returner for the Razorbacks. Harrison caught two passes for 29 yards as a freshman.
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Billy Gowers, P, Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Much like Harrison, Gowers made his bones playing a different sport. The 29-year-old was a noted Australian rules football player, starring for Western and Port Melbourne prior to his commitment to Hawai'i.
Gowers was Western's leading goal scorer during the 2018 campaign. He also took home a Jim "Frosty" Miller medal for his goal-kicking exploits in 2024. A Brisbane, Australia, native whose father and grandfather also played in the AFL, Gowers will make his college football debut in 2025 with the Rainbow Warriors, having learned the finer points of punting with Prokick Australia over the past year.
Logan Taylor, LB, Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Joining Gowers in the list of geriatric Hawai'i stars – at least compared to their peers – is Taylor, a former junior college standout who gained another year of eligibility thanks to Diego Pavia.
Taylor is a two-year captain at Hawai'i. He tallied 52 tackles (32) solo in 2024, the second-best mark on the team.
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John Emery Jr., RB, UTSA Roadrunners
Emery only recently transferred, landing with UTSA after a six-year spell at LSU. He shared the field with Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, and Derek Stingley, among others.
Emery recorded a little more than 1,100 yards across 223 carries with the Tigers from 2019-2024. He'll look to make a far more tangible impact on the Roadrunners' roster in 2025.
Jacob Zeno, QB, Texas A&M Aggies
Zeno and Jalen Hurts once were involved in the same Big 12 Championship game. Six years on, the former remains in the collegiate game, albeit in a different color than before.
Zeno, a former Baylor and UAB quarterback, is a backup at Texas A&M. He'll play behind highly-touted starter Marcel Reed, who enters the year as the unquestioned No. 1 in College Station.
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Cade McNamara, QB, ETSU Buccaneers
Prior to this season, McNamara was a fixture in the Big Ten, fielding snaps for both Michigan and Iowa. A former four-star prospect, McNamara arrived in Ann Arbor in 2019. In 2021, he was named the Wolverines' starter. The then-redshirt sophomore led Jim Harbaugh's side to a Big Ten title and its first-ever College Football Playoff. But after throwing two interceptions vs. Georgia in the CFP semifinal, McNamara was benched in favor of JJ McCarthy.
McCarthy took the reins of Michigan's offense full-time in 2022, prompting McNamara to transfer to the Hawkeyes for the 2023 season.
McNamara picked up another year of eligibility after suffering a season-ending knee injury at the start of the 2023 season. After starting eight games for Iowa in 2024, McNamara announced his intention to transfer, first committing to Western Kentucky before settling at FCS side East Tennessee State.
Zach Calzada, QB, Kentucky
Calzada is a college football nomad, having turned out for Texas A&M, Auburn, Incarnate Word and Kentucky during his seven-year career. Calzada found success with the Aggies in 2021, filling in for Haynes King after the former suffered an injury. Calzada recorded 2,185 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 starts. He planned on transferring to the Tigers in 2022 but re-entered the portal a month later.
Calzada spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Cardinals. He recorded more than 6,300 yards and 54 touchdowns in 22 starts with Incarnate Word, taking home the Southland Conference's Player of the Year honors in 2024. He'll finish his collegiate career with the Wildcats. He was named Kentucky's starter ahead of its Aug. 30 season opener vs. Toledo.