Ryheem Craig

Position:
Outside Linebacker
Height:
6-3
Weight:
240
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Taylorsville
High School:
Alexander Central
Prev School:
Louisville
Major:
Recreation & Parks Management

Senior in the classroom with one year of eligibility remaining … Two-year letterman (1/East Carolina, 1/Louisville) … Played in 32 career games making 13 starts – all in 2024 … Recorded 62 tackles (18 solo) … Credited with 7.0 TFLs (-27 yards) which included 3.0 sacks (-19 yards) … Booked at least one tackle in 18 of 32 contests (multiple 15 times).

2025: Named Third-Team Preseason All-AAC by Phil Steele Magazine and Athlon Sports

2024 (East Carolina): Started all 13 games during first year with the program earning varsity letter … Logged 502 total snaps (477 defense, 25 special teams) … Recorded season-best 53 stops (18 solo) … Registered 6.0 TFLs (-18 yards) which included 2.0 sacks (-10 yards) … Booked at least one tackled in all 13 games (multiple 12 times) … Tallied season-high eight stops (one solo) at Old Dominion … Recovered lone fumble against App State … Credited with a quarterback hurry against UTSA and a pass breakup versus Florida Atlantic … In Pirate debut, notched five tackles (one solo) with 1.5 TFLs (-2 yards) … Other TFLs came against App State (0.5/-1 yard), Liberty (1.0/-2 yards), UTSA (0.5/-1 yard), Charlotte (1.0/-8 yards), Navy (0.5/0 yards) and NC State (1.0/-4 yards) … Sacks were credited against Liberty (1.0/-2 yard) and Charlotte (1.0/-8 yards) … Booked five tackles (one solo) against NC State in Go Bowling Military Bowl.

2023 (Louisville): Appeared in 12 games mostly as a special team’s member (six games on defense for 27 snaps) … Recorded three tackles (one solo) … Tallied a pair of tackles ag NC State (one solo) … Other tackle came against Kentucky (assisted) … Earned first career letter helping the team to a 10-4 overall campaign and an appearance in the AAC Championship game against Florida State after posting a 7-1 league record … Did not play in the Holiday Bowl against Southern Cal on December 27.

2022 (Louisville): Played in three games (South Florida, Wake Forest and James Madison) … Recorded five tackles (one solo) … Booked multiple tackles in a game twice (USF and Wake Forest) … Credited with a quarterback hurry against Wake Forest … Member of a squad that went 8-5 on the season.

2021 (Louisville): Redshirted during initial year of the program … Appeared in four games (Eastern Kentucky, Wake Forest, Boston College and NC State) … Credited with first career sack against the Eagles (nine yards), which was his lone stop of the year.

High School: Three-star prospect out of Alexander Central ... Rated the No. 82 weakside defensive end and the No. 61 in North Carolina by 247Sports ... Checked in as the No. 72 weakside defensive end and the No. 59 prospect in North Carolina ... Played for Butch Carter at Alexander Central ... Recorded 89 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks in earning All-Northwestern 3-A/4-A Conference first-team honors as a junior ... Also, a standout on the track and field team.

Personal: Son of Latoya Craig … Earned undergraduate degree in communication in spring of 2025 ... Currently pursuing second degree in recreation and parks management … Named to ECU Director of Athletics Honor Roll in spring 2025.