Leading up to Saturday, several of the UNC football coaches had shared photos with wide receiver Tylee Craft as he continued his battle with cancer in the hospital. A staple of Carolina’s sideline for the past three seasons, head coach Mack Brown alerted the press after the team’s game against Pitt that Craft was hospitalized.
One week later, Brown delivered more sobering news to the gathered media: Craft died earlier Saturday morning. The Tar Heels dedicated their game to the Sumter, S.C. native as part of a Cancer Awareness Day at Kenan Stadium.
After the news was shared by the program, hundreds more people posted in Craft’s honor and memory. That included UNC Football itself, its leaders, and some of Craft’s teammates like fellow wide receiver J.J. Jones.
The broader UNC community also paid tribute throughout Saturday evening, as programs, coaches, and alumni shared a variety of posts in memory of Craft. That included the UNC men’s basketball team wearing special warmups for their Blue-White scrimmage on Saturday, which took place after the conclusion of the basketball game.
https://twitter.com/DevontezWalker/status/1845203914356064522?t=9kAr20sc5mQt05sxfDZCvQ&s=31
https://twitter.com/8kMike/status/1845838254697803842
Other ACC programs, fans, and those in the football community shared their condolences to the Craft family and UNC team in the wake of the news as well — including Saturday’s opponent Georgia Tech. Here are some additional highlights of the posts:
https://twitter.com/DocHeelfire/status/1845203526928224655?t=evdTSGsQrMbX7aarR8a7Hw&s=31
Craft was 23 years old.
Featured photo via UNC Athletic Communications.
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