UNC junior wide receiver Tylee Craft, who is sitting out the entire football season while battling cancer, has been named the winner of the 2022 Disney Spirit Award. The award, given out since 1996, “seeks to honor the most inspirational figure in college football.”

Craft, 20, was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in March and has since received chemotherapy at UNC’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, which has kept him out for the entire 2022 season. According to the Craft family, doctors told Tylee he was just weeks away from dying when he originally went to the hospital. Despite that, Craft has still been a visible presence on the team, standing on the sidelines during games while wearing his No. 13 jersey.

“It felt good to be recognized and be surrounded by my teammates and coaches,” Craft said. “That bond that we share on and off the field gets me through my days.”

The UNC football program has made multiple tributes to Craft, including naming its annual Spring Game after him and wearing helmet stickers with Craft’s number on them.

“Tylee has had an unbelievable impact on all of us. Whether it’s on the team as a player, a coach or staff, our university and our state,” said head coach Mack Brown. “The Disney Spirit Award to me is the best award that I’ve ever had a player get because of its meaning.”

According to a news release from Disney, Craft’s cancer has stabilized, allowing him to visit patients in the Lineberger Center every Friday before home football games. He also currently serves as an ambassador for the White Ribbon Project, which raises awareness for lung cancer and provides support to patients.

Crat will be presented with the Disney Spirit Award during the Home Depot College Football Awards show on December 8. The show will begin at 7 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPN.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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