I can’t even begin to tell you how emotional the postgame press conference was after UNC’s 41-34 loss to Georgia Tech.
Sure, it was frustrating that North Carolina lost its fourth straight game and watched its season continue to spiral, but that is the furthest thing from players and coaches’ minds right now.
To open up his postgame press conference, Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown delivered the sad news that Tylee Craft, a UNC wide receiver who had been fighting lung cancer since 2022, passed away earlier this morning.
Brown didn’t tell his players until after the game, though, as he didn’t want them distracted from the task of trying to beat the Yellow Jackets.
During the game, though, North Carolina found a great way to honor Craft. The Tar Heels’ number one receiver, J.J. Jones, wore Craft’s Number 13 jersey.
Even more special for UNC and the Craft family, Jones scored a touchdown in the second quarter and honored Craft in his celebration.
https://twitter.com/UNCBarstool/status/1845189541570937206
“That was so cool,” North Carolina head coach Mack Brown said of Jones’ celebration and idea to wear Craft’s jersey. “:ast night when JJ came up and said, “Would it be okay for me to wear his number, his jersey?” I said, “You want his name on the back?” He said yes. I said yes you can, but ask his mom. He (J.J.) said, “Coach one different receiver wants to wear it every week. I said, we’ll make it happen.”
Jones ended his day with 64 yards and a touchdown, his second in three games, on three receptions. Jones now has 364 receiving yards on 21 catches, good enough for 17.3 yards per catch.
Having Craft on their hearts during the game, not knowing he had already passed, must’ve been extremely heavy.
I couldn’t think of a better way the Tar Heels to honor Craft than with J.J. Jones wearing Craft’s jersey.
Thank you for being a light in the UNC football program, Tylee. You may be gone but you’re never forgotten.
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