North Carolina is 6-0 for the first time since 1997 and just the tenth time in program history. If there's reason to believe they can continue playing at this pace it might be their perspective. From the Tez Walker story, to their chaplain Mitch Mason, who is battling a nerve disorder, and Tylee Craft, their wide receiver who continues to fight stage four lung cancer, Carolina knows how easily everything can be taken away.

"Tylee hasn't missed a practice, he hasn't missed a meeting," UNC head coach Mack Brown said in September. "He gets his chemo and radiation treatment and he's so sick and he never gripes."

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While Tez Walker has been able to make his return to the field thanks to the NCAA's reversal, Craft is still waiting to make his. He hasn't been able to make an impact through touchdowns, but his presence has been felt in other ways both within the team and the community.

"Being an influence to a lot of kids, a lot of adults," Craft said. "It means a lot that I inspire them to do good, to strive for greatness and whatever obstacle they have in front of them."

Craft was diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma, a rare form of lung cancer on March 14, 2022. Initially he thought his symptoms were related to a back injury he sustained lifting. When he collapsed in the Kenan Football Center elevator while riding with Brown's wife Sally, he went to the hospital for further tests.

"My mom was crying because she heard the news first," Craft remembered. "I woke up and I was shocked to learn what was going on. I was just trying to make sure my mom was okay."

The back spasms were actually due to a cancer related complication with his liver. Craft went through multiple rounds of of chemo and immunotherapy at UNC's Lineberger Cancer Center. About a month after his diagnosis UNC played their 2022 spring game in Craft's honor.

"That was during a difficult time period," Craft said. "The team revolved around me and came together around me and helped me lift up my days."

Since then #Tyleestrong has become a rallying cry for the team and the community. You'll see players with his name written into their tape on game days. You'll see Tyleestrong T-shirts and jerseys on fans in the stands.

"You wouldn't know if you hadn't seen Tylee that he had cancer," UNC wide receiver coach Lonnie Galloway said. "The way he carries himself he's always positive. He's an inspiration for all of us because he's always at the team meeting at 6:30am, he does his treatment, he goes to class, he's never on any infraction list. For him to do that dealing with what he's dealing with, you wonder why some guys miss class or not push themselves. I tell them all the time, just when ya'll think you've got problems, Tylee would switch with you.

In May of 2023, Craft's positivity was put to the test yet again. Scans revealed Tylee's cancer had spread to his brain.

"I was starting to get headaches a little bit so, I figured it was something with the glasses I was wearing switching out prescriptions," Craft said.

Ten straight days of radiation treatment shrunk the cancer in his brain according to a MRI he received in August. In May he also started a clinical trial on a drug called Tarlatamab that has shrunk the tumor in his lungs from 2.6 cm to 1.4 cm.

"It let's me know that the drug is working and hopefully it continues to work," Craft said.

Saturday versus Virginia is UNC's cancer awareness game. Craft will lead the team out onto the field carrying the flag.

"It represents that I'm a fighter and I can get through and other people can get through things too," Craft said. "I can't just be sad and moping because of my disease. They have to be strong for other people who are going through stuff too."

Tylee works out three to four days a week. He's embraced his role as an unofficial receivers coach and hype man on the sidelines. He has two years of eligibility left and dreams of taking the field again.

"Keep fighting," Craft said. "No matter what happens keep striving to do better and to push through whatever obstacle you have in front of you. Never give up there's always hope at the end of the tunnel."