“It just adds to what I play for. Not only is it because I love the game of football, but it’s for kids like Jack,” he said. “I want to be a role model.”

Jack attended his first Husker game this year. It rained during parts of the game, but that didn’t deter him. His mom stood under an awning, trying to convince Jack to don some rain gear and maybe scoot out early to beat traffic. Jack wouldn’t have it.

“You were not going to pull him away from that field,” she said. “He took in every single, little, tiny detail. We were staying until the last minute of that game. He loved it.”

Jack, his parents and three siblings — Cece, 13; Dylan, 11; and Myles, 6 — will head to Lincoln on Thursday morning.

Younger brother Myles also has Menkes disease, though the oldest two children do not. Michelle said the family will request a wish for Myles within the next few years.

As part of Jack’s wish, he will tour the stadium, meet coaches and players, eat lunch with members of the team, participate in warm-up drills and practice touchdown dances with his new teammates as they prepare for this weekend’s game.