North Carolina WR Tylee Craft announces he has "rare form of cancer"

Tylee Craft, a junior wideout on the Tar Heels football team, says he was experiencing severe back pain that led to the diagnosis.

North Carolina wide receiver Tylee Craft has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and has begun chemotherapy, the player announced on Twitter.

Craft said he has been experiencing severe back pain and went to his doctor to be checked further. He was diagnosed with cancer on March 14.

Craft will step away from football, but plans on returning "as soon as possible."

"My family and I are in good spirits and we're getting all the support we could ever ask for from the football program, the athletics department, and the medical professionals here at UNC," Craft said. "This part of my journey is just the beginning and I'm ready to attack it head on."

North Carolina head football coach Mack Brown expressed his support for Craft.

"Tylee is a great young man who is facing a tough situation, but we're so proud of the way he's handling it," Brown said. "Tar Heel Nation, let's rally around Tylee and his family and life them up with thoughts and prayers as they begin the road to recovery."

Craft, a junior from South Carolina, has played in 11 career games for UNC.

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