North Carolina WR Tylee Craft dies of cancer at 23

North Carolina wide receiver Tylee Craft, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in the spring of 2022, has passed away at the age of 23.

The university announced his death on Saturday through their social media accounts.

\"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tylee Craft.

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\"Tylee touched the lives of many and left a lasting impact on us all. He was truly one-of-a-kind and although he may not be with us physically, his spirit will continue to watch over us with his infectious smile and unwavering positivity.

\"On behalf of his family and our program, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported Tylee during his battle with cancer. Your support meant more than you could ever know.\"

In March 2022, North Carolina's athletic training staff conducted tests to determine the cause of Craft's severe back pain. The results revealed that he had large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and he immediately began treatment as the cancer had already spread to his lungs, liver, and spine, according to an ESPN profile from August.

According to ESPN, doctors had initially given him a month to live when he started treatment.

Despite his illness, Craft continued to attend school, graduate, and work towards a master's degree. He also remained a part of the team as a student-coach, attending every practice and event that he could.

Head coach Mack Brown shared that he was informed of Craft's passing shortly after the team's 41-34 loss to Georgia Tech. While the news was not unexpected, Brown had informed the team on Thursday that Craft's cancer had spread, and he was entering hospice care.

\"The team immediately went to see him, hugging him, talking to him, and sharing laughs,\" Brown said on Saturday, as reported by The News & Observer in Raleigh. \"We had no idea.\"

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Brown described Craft, a native of South Carolina, as \"an exceptional young man.\"

\"I will say that this young man fought so hard for two and a half years,\" Brown said. \"The doctors said he exceeded their expectations, and he did it all with a positive attitude and a smile on his face. He never missed a meeting or a practice, and he even coached his fellow teammates. He truly was an exceptional young man.\"

Craft was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2020, according to the 247Sports composite. He appeared in 11 games over two seasons for the Tar Heels, playing as a wide receiver and on special teams.