Craig Yeast played four seasons at the University of Kentucky and finished with three career records including most receptions, yards and touchdown receptions. Yeast finished second in career receptions in the Southeastern Conference. Yeast received many collegiate honors including Third Team All-American by College Football News (1998), two All-SEC awards (1997, 1998), and was a semi-finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (1998). Yeast participated in the 1999 Outback Bowl 26-14 loss to Penn State Nittany Lions.
Yeast was drafted as the third pick in the fourth round (98th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Yeast completed his best season in NFL during the 2000-2001, catching 24 passes for 301 yards and attempting one rush for 15 yards.