<p>Georgia Southern star wide receiver Teddy Craft, who led the Eagles in touchdowns and reception yards last year, died Thursday after suffering critical injuries in a July Fourth motorcycle crash.</p><p>Craft, 22, of Hartwell, died at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah two days after a collision with another motorcyclist threw him from his Suzuki GSX motorcycle just outside the Statesboro city limits.</p><p>"For an individual who was just so vibrant as Teddy was to have this happen, it just sort of shocks everyone," said Sam Baker, athletic director at Georgia Southern.</p><p>Some of Craft's teammates were with his family in Savannah when he died, and they quickly spread the word by calling the rest of the team from the hospital, Baker said. The university planned to arrange a bus trip for teammates to attend Craft's funeral Monday in Hartwell.</p><p>News of Craft's death also spread on the Georgia Southern University campus, where less than half the student body of 16,600 are attending summer classes. Craft, a starting receiver since his rookie year in 2003, had made a name for himself even among casual football fans on campus.</p><p>"Even if you couldn't name the other players on offense, if somebody said Teddy Craft, you knew what position he played and who he was," said Patrick Whiteledge, a 23-year-old pre-med student. "You knew that if they were going to pass, it was going to him and he'd make the play."</p><p>Craft had been a second team All-Southern Conference pick the past two years. He led the Eagles in reception yards (319) and touchdowns (5) in the 2005 season, catching four of his five touchdown passes during the final two games.</p><p>Last season, Craft set a Georgia Southern record for its longest reception when he caught an 82-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Darius Smiley during a 49-7 win at Elon.</p><p>"It's a huge blow for the football program and the university," said Bryan Salter, 21, a Georgia Southern senior and sports director at campus radio station WVGS. "I'd see him riding around on his motorcycle and he always was wearing a helmet. He always seemed to be safe."</p><p>The crash occurred Tuesday evening as Craft and five other motorcyclists cruised through a residential neighborhood. Baker said Craft had been wearing a helmet.</p><p>Craft collided with another rider who was attempting a right turn, was thrown from his motorcycle and struck a guide wire to a light poll, said Georgia State Patrol Senior Trooper J.B. Scott. There was no indication any of the motorcyclists had been drinking alcohol, Scott said.</p><p>Craft was taken to East Georgia Regional Medical Center, then airlifted to Memorial hospital in Savannah.</p><p>At Loco's Deli and Pub about a mile from Paulson Stadium, assistant football coaches Deion Melvin and John Shingler, both regular customers, broke the news to the restaurant staff at lunchtime, said bartender Stephanie Tarpley.</p><p>"They seemed OK, but you could tell they were upset," said Tarpley, who's also a Georgia Southern student. "It's a shame to lose an athlete, someone obviously a lot of people knew and were close to. I feel sorry for his teammates."</p><p>Yusuf Presberry, a Georgia Southern senior, sat next to Craft in a class on principles of coaching during the spring semester. Though they weren't close friends, Presberry described Craft as quiet and friendly.</p><p>"He was just a real calm, laid-back kind of guy," Presberry said. "Every time I was out somewhere and he'd see me, he'd say hi and give me a handshake. It's a real blow."</p>
