MEDFORD (CBS) – It’s signing day for the Tufts University Lacrosse team, and their new bright young star is only seven years old.

“This guy is tough, competitive and we love being around him,” head coach Mike Daly said. Coach is talking about 7-year-old Jacob Beranger, who has been battling cancer since he was three years old.

Now through a program called Team Impact, which matches children with life threatening illnesses with college teams, Jacob gets to be a part of the Tufts Lacrosse team.

“He was in ICU for three months and put into a coma. He had to be taught how to walk all over again,” his mom JoAnne Beranger said.

Today Jacob is in remission. He’s up and walking and now takes part in the Jumbos practices and watches their games. “It gives me great pleasure for our first signing for the class 2025… Jacob Beranger,” coached Daly yelled out at a team press conference.

Like any big time college athlete, Jacob even gets his own locker, jersey and helmet.

“Every time he shows up he brightens our day. He’s tough and great to be around,” Captain Kane Delaney said. Even though Jacob has a long road ahead of him, his mom says this experience is truly amazing from where he’s started from. “You bring the joy and life back into him. I want to thank God and his angel because Jacob wouldn’t be here today,” Beranger said.

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