Hurricanes make 8-year-old Carter Hucks' dream come true

Published Oct. 8, 2014 3:22 p.m. ET

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Carter Hucks had one wish: to meet his favorite team, the Miami Hurricanes.

It was granted Wednesday through the Make-A-Wish Foundation as Hucks spent time with players and coaches, discovering firsthand what it's like to be a Hurricane.

Hucks, an 8-year-old from Charleston, S.C., has Fanconi anemia, a rare disorder that leads to cancer and bone marrow failure in most patients. He couldn't play football this season. His father, Derrick, told Miami's CBS 4 he became a fan of the program in the 1980s and '90s and that his son followed suit.

Upon arrival at the Coral Gables, Fla., campus, Hucks was shown around by junior All-ACC running back Duke Johnson and senior All-ACC linebacker Denzel Perryman. They took him to meetings and admired the national championship trophies displayed in the Schwartz Center for Athletic Excellence.

When it came time for practice, Hucks' equipment -- including a "U"-adorned helmet with "Atlantic Coast Conference" and "State of the U Florida" stickers -- waited for him at his locker. His No. 8 orange jersey matched that of his idol. With help from his mother, Jessie, Hucks was ready.

The cheerleaders and Sebastian the Ibis greeted him outside as Hucks ran through the smoke tunnel onto the Greentree Practice Fields with seniors Clive Walford, Jon Feliciano and Anthony Chickillo.

After walking onto the field with Johnson, Hucks led the team stretch and huddle. Before drills, he played catch with senior wideout Phillip Dorsett and showed off his skills. He posed for photos with members of the defense.

At the end of practice, redshirt freshman offensive lineman Sunny Odogwu carried Hucks off the field on his shoulders.

You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.

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