David Shumate: Before we discuss how you made your way to Durham, I wanted to start with your initial recruitment and choosing to go to Columbia. What do you remember about what schools were after you, what was that process like?
Cam Dillon: Coming out of high school I had a couple of Ivy League schools, a couple of the smaller MAC schools and some other FCS teams that I was talking to. I just remember taking my first official visit to Columbia two weeks before Christmas time and I fell in love. I fell in love with New York City, I fell in love with all of the players on the team, the facilities, the school, just everything. It just felt like the right fit for me and somewhere I knew I would be happy for the next four years and it ultimately made my decision very easy.
DS: One of the things that I think would have characterized your time at Colombia was the 2020 season when the Ivy League didn’t play football. What was that year like for you?
CD: It was really hard having to be home for almost a year-and-a-half — not with the team, not with any of your friends from school, and not even playing our season was very difficult. One of the things our coaches really preached about during that time was making sure we held ourselves accountable, as well as the rest of our teammates knowing that we weren’t with each other. For the most part the team was awesome about that. We came back and had a great year last year. Maybe some of the results weren’t what we were looking for, but it was a great year to be back together.
DS: Individually you had a monster season, earning Second Team All-Ivy League honors. You mentioned in 2020 you were at home a lot, training by yourself, staying in shape. What did you learn about yourself during that time?
CD: Kind of just the self-motivation that is needed. You know, my whole life I’ve always had great teammates that are there with me and it makes training easy, but spending so much time alone — well I wasn’t alone, I had by brother at home for a little bit as well — but just being able to find the time and make sure that you’re staying consistent with everything knowing that eventually things were going to change and we were going to get back and we needed to be prepared for that. That just really kept me going and kept me motivated.
DS: You got your degree in mechanical engineering, it’s an obvious through-line to associate how important academics are to you in coming from an Ivy League school to Duke. Was that a part of the puzzle for you in wanting to come here?
CD: Well, growing up Duke was always one of my dream schools. It had everything — big-time football and great academics. So when I had the opportunity to finish my education here as well as my football career, it was really a no-brainer for me. Being able to fulfill that dream I’ve had since being a little kid is really special.
DS: Mike Elko I’m sure was a piece of that decision-making process as well. What were the conversations like with him as you were choosing to come here?
CD: He’s a great guy. I talked to him on the phone a couple of times. I actually didn’t even take an official visit before I committed here. Everything was via Zoom and phone calls with the coaches. It also helped that my roommate from Columbia, Ty Lenhart, transferred here. He was committed before I committed, which was another key step. Hearing from him how amazing everything was definitely mattered. But Coach Elko, obviously he played under Coach [Al] Bagnoli when he was at Penn, and Coach Bagnoli is now the coach at Columbia, and being able to talk with him and learn how high his opinion was of Coach Elko was huge in making my decision. Honestly, with all of that factored in, it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve made in my life.
DS: The conversation around transfers in college football comes from many angles, but at times the players aren’t heard from specifically. How has the opportunity to transfer here enriched your playing experience?
CD: Everything about it is kind of surreal. Growing up you dream of this stuff and I had an amazing four years at Columbia and so far everything has been amazing here. Everything from the coaching staff, to the meals — it’s all very different from what I’m used to and it makes the experience unreal. I’ll forever be grateful for having had this opportunity.
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David Shumate Sits Down with Two Grad Transfers - Duke University - GoDuke.com
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