Tylee Craft
{{Short description|American football player (2001–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox college football player
| embed =
| name = Tylee Craft
| image = Tylee craft portrait.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Craft with North Carolina in 2022
| school =
| currentnumber =
| currentposition = Wide receiver
| class =
| major =
| highschool = Sumter (Sumter, South Carolina)
| pastschools =
- North Carolina (2020–2024)
| birth_date = {{birth date|2001|10|1}}
| birth_place = Sumter, South Carolina, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|10|12|2001|10|1}}
| death_place = Pittsboro, North Carolina, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 200
| highlights =
| espn = 4430620
}}
Tylee Craft (October 1, 2001 – October 12, 2024) was an American college football player who competed as a wide receiver for the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels.{{cite web |title=Tylee Craft |url=https://www.tarheeltimes.com/bio2558.aspx |website=Tar Heel Times |access-date=October 13, 2024}} Known for his involvement on special teams and offensive plays, Craft joined UNC in 2020 after graduating from Sumter High School in Sumter, South Carolina.{{Cite web |publisher=Sumter High School |title=Tylee Craft Selected for Disney Spirit Award |url=https://shs.sumterschools.net/news/tylee-craft-selected-for-disney-spirit-award/}}{{Cite web |title=Former Sumter High star Craft medically retiring amid cancer battle |url=https://www.theitem.com/stories/former-sumter-high-star-craft-medically-retiring-amid-cancer-battle,417850 |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=The Sumter Item |language=en}}
Early life
A native of Sumter, South Carolina, Craft was born on October 1, 2001.{{cite news |last1=Koh |first1=Michael |title=Remembering Tylee Craft: Tar Heel, Fighter, 'Blessing From God' |url=https://chapelboro.com/sports/remembering-tylee-craft-tar-heel-fighter-blessing-from-god |access-date=October 19, 2024 |work=Chapelboro.com |date=October 14, 2024}} He attended Sumter High School, where he was a standout football player.{{cite news |last1=Bayer |first1=Cassidy |title=Tylee Craft's impact remembered as UNC and Sumter honor his legacy |url=https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/tylee-craft-legacy/101-49cdc89c-e40b-48e0-83fa-6d83a6a48e8b |access-date=October 19, 2024 |work=wltx.com |date=October 15, 2024}} He accumulated 59 catches, 993 yards and 11 touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons at Sumter. In his junior year, Sumter's football team had a 10–1 record and made it to the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs.{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=Sam |title='Proud': Sumter native, UNC football player remembered as fighter until his last days |url=https://www.wistv.com/2024/10/17/proud-sumter-native-unc-football-player-remembered-fighter-until-his-last-days/ |access-date=October 19, 2024 |work=WisTV |date=October 17, 2024 |language=en}}
College career
Craft appeared in several games during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, contributing both on offense and special teams for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team. However, before the 2022 season, he was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer, Stage 4 large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, which required him to step back from active play.{{Cite web |last=Parks |first=James |date=March 23, 2022 |title=UNC wideout announces he has 'rare form of cancer' |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq/ncaa-football/north-carolina-football-tylee-craft-cancer-diagnosis |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=College Football HQ |language=en}} Despite his illness, Craft remained closely connected to the football program, attending practices and offering support to teammates as a student coach throughout his treatment.{{Cite web |last=Dinich |first=Heather |date=October 12, 2024 |title=Tar Heels WR Craft, 23, dies after cancer battle |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/41758674 |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2024.{{Cite web |title=Tylee Craft still fighting after graduation from UNC |url=https://www.tarheeltimes.com/article151857.aspx |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=Tar Heel Times}}
= Recognition and retirement =
In recognition of his courage, Craft received the 2022 Disney Spirit Award, presented annually to the most inspirational player in college football. He was named to the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion team, honored as an ambassador for the White Ribbon Project, and nominated for the 2024 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award.{{Cite web |last=Puia |first=Emily |date=September 18, 2024 |title=North Carolina's Tylee Craft Nominated For Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award |url=https://www.orangebowl.org/north-carolinas-tylee-craft-nominated-for-capital-one-orange-bowl-fwaa-courage-award/ |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=Capital One Orange Bowl |language=en-US}} He was recognized by the V Foundation.{{Cite web |title=Tylee Craft's Courageous Lung Cancer Journey |url=https://www.v.org/story/tylee-craft-continues-to-inspire-amid-battle/ |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=V Foundation |language=en-US}}
Although he hoped to return to the field, Craft announced his retirement from football in July 2024, focusing on his health and family.{{Cite web |title=Former College Football Player Tylee Craft Dies at 23 Following Lung Cancer Diagnosis: 'He Was 1-of-1' |url=https://people.com/former-college-football-player-tylee-craft-dies-at-23-following-lung-cancer-diagnosis-8727616 |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=People.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=July 19, 2024 |title=Continuing to Battle Cancer, UNC's Tylee Craft Retires From Football |url=https://northcarolina.rivals.com/news/continuing-to-battle-cancer-unc-s-tylee-craft-retires-from-football |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=northcarolina.rivals.com |language=en}}
Death and legacy
Craft died of lung cancer on October 12, 2024, at the age of 23.{{cite web |title=Obituary for Tylee Hezekiah Craft|url=https://www.jobsmortuary.net/obituary/tylee-craft |website=Jobs Mortuary |access-date=October 19, 2024 |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Andrejev |first1=Alex |last2=Marks |first2=Brendan |name-list-style=and |date=October 13, 2024 |title=UNC football's Tylee Craft dies after 2022 lung cancer diagnosis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5838694/2024/10/12/tylee-craft-unc-cancer-death/ |access-date=October 13, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
His death was marked by tributes from the UNC football community, including a ceremony during a game on Cancer Awareness Day.{{Cite web |last=Bonjour |first=Doug |date=October 12, 2024 |title=North Carolina football player Tylee Craft dies from rare lung cancer at 23 |url=https://apnews.com/article/unc-tylee-craft-obituary-665643f913c95b444fe6c402ce276be5 |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}} The team honored Craft by featuring his jersey number and continuing the "Tylee Strong" initiative. UNC announced plans to name a nutrition center after him, ensuring his legacy remains part of the university's athletic program.{{Cite web |last=Morik |first=Ryan |date=October 12, 2024 |title=UNC player Tylee Craft dies at 23 of lung cancer; teammate scores touchdown wearing his jersey |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/unc-player-tylee-craft-dies-23-lung-cancer-teammate-scores-touchdown-wearing-his-jersey |access-date=October 13, 2024 |publisher=Fox News |language=en-US}} Coach Mack Brown had a close relationship with Craft.{{Cite web |title=Video: Mack Brown Discusses the Death of Tylee Craft |url=https://www.tarheeltimes.com/article154087.aspx |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=Tar Heel Times}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://goheels.com/sports/football/roster/tylee-craft/21856 North Carolina Tar Heels bio]
{{Disney Sports Spirit Award}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Craft, Tylee}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Deaths from lung cancer in North Carolina
Category:North Carolina Tar Heels football players
Category:Players of American football from Sumter, South Carolina