'#TyleeStrong': UNC football remembers former wide receiver Tylee Craft

Tylee Craft, a former UNC wide receiver and student assistant coach, died Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, after his battle with cancer. He was 23.

Craft joined the North Carolina football program in 2020 as a four-star prospect and appeared in 11 games over two seasons. On March 14, 2022, he was diagnosed with stage four large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma — a rare form of lung cancer. In July, he medically retired from football but remained a part of the program as a student assistant, attending practices and games while undergoing chemotherapy. He was honored in 2022 with the Disney Spirit Award, which is an award given to an inspirational figure in college football on or off the field.

Head coach Mack Brown came off the field and was pulled into a room after his team lost to Georgia Tech on Saturday at Kenan Stadium. UNC football spokesperson Jeremy Sharpe and Brown's wife, Sally, told him the news. He then delivered it to the team in the locker room.

“This young man fought so hard for his two and a half years,” Brown said. “The doctors told us he outlived what he should have. And he did it with a spirit. He did it with a smile on his face. He didn't miss a meeting. He didn't miss practice. He coached these other young people. He's just an incredible young person.”

The Tar Heels honored Craft during Saturday's game, welcoming his family onto the field and dedicating the afternoon to him and cancer awareness. 

After the first quarter, the video board projected a montage. Craft holding the North Carolina flag in the tunnel before running onto the field for kickoff. Sharing handshakes with his teammates during warmups. Leading a huddle at practice. Dancing on the sidelines. Hugging players. Cracking smiles. Waving a towel. 

The screen went black. #TyleeStrong in all-white text illuminated the board. 

Fourteen members of Craft's family watched from the field. They all wore Carolina Blue shirts with Craft's number, 13, printed on the front and back and #TyleeStrong on their chests. 

Brown walked away from the sideline toward the south endzone. He stopped around the 15-yard line where he hugged Craft's mom, September. The embrace lasted several minutes. She wept and would not let go. Brown then walked back to the UNC sideline, removed his cap and wiped the tears from his eyes. 

Craft was raised in Sumter, S.C., by his mom, a police officer. He played football at Sumter High School, where he recorded 59 receptions for 993 yards and 11 touchdowns over his final two seasons and was selected to the 2019 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

He was tall and quick. He was smart. Tough. He was a “diamond in the rough,” Brown said. As soon as North Carolina offered him a scholarship, Craft said yes. 

After Craft arrived in Chapel Hill in 2020, Brown truly discovered the character he was. Brown said he was sassy.

UNC nutritionists did not like to offer cereal because of the sugar content. But Craft demanded sugar. So now, every player can get cereal. 

“He wasn't going to tell you something just to make you feel good,” Brown said. “If you ask him, he was going to give you a direct answer. He was very quiet. He wasn't going to waste words. But he was wonderful.”

He played two seasons from 2020-2021. During spring practice in 2022, Craft started to experience tightness and spasms in his back. He attributed the pain to workouts. But after scans, doctors delivered the diagnosis. He stopped playing football to focus on treatment.

Craft graduated with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science/sports administration in May. He then enrolled in graduate courses to pursue a master's degree in applied professional studies.

He continued attending practice. He never wanted to miss a day. This year as a student assistant, even when he would throw up from the radiation in his system, Brown said he couldn't get Craft to leave. He wouldn’t even admit that he was sick. 

“I need to be with my family and my people,” Craft would say. 

Craft turned 23 on Oct. 1. That same day, his girlfriend, Olivia Deepak, created a GoFundMe page to raise money for his medical bills. After the game against Pitt on Oct. 5, Brown shared that Craft's condition had worsened. He was supposed to attend that game, but had to go to the hospital instead. Then during practice on Thursday, the head coach shared with the team that Craft would enter hospice care. 

Brown visited him that day. Craft, a Jets fan, complained about his favorite team firing its head coach. 

After the announcement at Thursday's practice, the UNC football team rushed to see their friend. They hugged, talked and laughed. 

 “That's just the guy you always wanted to be around,” graduate quarterback Jacolby Criswell said at a press conference on Oct. 8. “Always laughing, always a guy that you can rely on, regardless. He's not going to say anything bad. Probably the most respectful person in this building.” 

J.J. Jones, graduate wide receiver and a close friend of Craft, approached Brown on Friday night.

“Would it be OK if I wore his number, his jersey?” Jones asked.

“You want his name on the back?” Brown replied.

“Yes.”

Jones got the OK from September. The receivers will rotate the jersey every game for the rest of the season. The entire team will wear 13 on the back of their helmets paired with a “Tylee Strong” sticker. 

“Tylee means so much to this team,” Jones said in the video played during the game against Georgia Tech. “He's pretty much the heart and soul of this team. He's such a good person overall. Everybody loves Tylee.”

Within a year, the UNC athletic department will name the nutrition room outside of the locker room the Tylee Craft Nutrition Center. Saturday morning, team chaplain Mitch Mason visited Craft and shared with him the news of the nutrition center and Jones wearing his jersey. It made him happy. But Craft knew he didn't have much time.

“He basically said, ‘Tell the guys I love them and goodbye,’” Brown said. “And went to sleep.”

Craft died early Saturday. 

At the end of the first half against Georgia Tech, Jones caught a pass in the back of the end zone. UNC’s 13th point of the game.

Jones looked down at the number on his chest. He pounded his jersey — Craft's name on the back — while his teammates surrounded him. 

Then, Jones pointed his finger to the 13.

One more time. 

For Tylee. 

@carolinewills03

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com