[3] A placekicker and punter, he averaged 42 yards-per-punt, made 12 field goals and all 63 of his extra point attempts as a senior, being named first-team all-state.
[2][4] Ranked as the best punter recruit nationally, McNamara committed to play college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
[5] McNamara won the starting job at Texas Tech as a true freshman in 2019 and averaged 45.0 yards per punt, which was then fourth all-time in school history, second in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) that year among freshmen, and second in the Big 12 Conference.
[2][11] McNamara totaled 50 punts and averaged 44.3 yards as a senior in 2022, being named third-team All-Big 12 by Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus.
[14] After going unselected in the 2024 NFL draft, McNamara was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent.