7-Year-Old Jack Hoffman Scores TD In Nebraska Spring Football Game
On the field and online, Jack Hoffman was impossible to stop on Saturday. Hoffman, a 7-year-old brain cancer patient from Atkinson, Neb., scampered 69 yards for a touchdown during the University of Nebraska's spring scrimmage in Lincoln. Hoffman expertly followed his blockers, who held the defense at bay while he jogged past them with a football that seemed nearly half his size. Players from both the Nebraska offense and defense celebrated with Hoffman after the score.
After the video of Hoffman's run was uploaded online, it quickly became viral, registering more than 500,000 views on YouTube and landing Jack on ESPN for a post-game interview.
"It felt awesome," he said.
Hoffman was invited to attend the practice by the Huskers. He wore the No. 22 of Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead, who is the captain of "Team Jack," a support network helping Hoffman during his ongoing cancer treatments. Hoffman was diagnosed with cancer in April of 2011 and has undergone two surgeries. His father, Andy, said that a recent MRI showed Jack's tumor has shrunk substantially in the past year.
Football operations director Jeff Jamrog and fullback C.J. Zimmerer devised the play that worked Hoffman into the scrimmage. Hoffman and the Red team beat the White team, 30-21.