UNC WR Tylee Craft dies at age 23 after a two-year battle with cancer

North Carolina wide receiver Tylee Craft died Saturday after a long battle with cancer, the school announced. He was 23 years old.

According to his GoFundMe, Craft was diagnosed with stage 4 large cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma, a rare form of cancer, on March 22, 2022. According to ESPN, the cancer was discovered when UNC training staff took him to the hospital because he was struggling with debilitating back pain, which led to aggressive treatment with chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Unfortunately, the cancer eventually spread to his liver, brain and spine. The condition forced him to retire for medical reasons, but he remained active as a coach in the Tar Heels program.

UNC statement announcing Craft's death:

Craft, a Sumter, South Carolina native, joined the UNC program as a two-star recruit in the 2020 class. He appeared in a total of 11 games as a freshman and sophomore.

UNC head coach Mack Brown told reporters after Saturday's game, which he lost 42-34, that his team informed players at practice Thursday that Craft had been admitted to hospice care and had only a few days to live have. He praised the strength Craft showed in his fight, which reportedly lasted much longer than his doctors expected:

Brown wiped away tears at the end of the first quarter after giving Craft's mother a long hug.

UNC considered Saturday its cancer awareness game, with players and coaches wearing T-shirts that read “Tylee Strong” during the team's bell tower walk. The UNC basketball team also wore the jerseys before their scrimmage on Saturday.

Wide receiver JJ Jones wore Craft's No. 13 jersey during the Georgia Tech game and caught three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. Jones gave another tribute after the game, as did wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway and athletic director Bubba Cunningham.