25 Players in 25 Days: #17 Mario Craver

Position: Wide Receiver
Classification: Sophomore
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala. (Mississippi State)
Listed Height: 5-9
Listed Weight: 165 lbs

Key notes from Olin’s thoughts on Craver

• We saw Mario Craver play against A&M. We were watching him last year in Starkville, going, “Man, Mississippi State isn’t that good, but they have something to build with these freshmen, Craver and Michael Van Buren Jr. Now, Van Buren is at LSU, and Craver is here. As a quarterback, would you rather have a big receiver or a receiver of average height who’s really fast?
   
• I hope he’s a guy that can take the top off the secondary, you know? Does A&M have that now? Because I don’t think they had it last year.
   
• I was looking at how A&M had long drives vs. big plays. They only had four touchdowns all year of 30 yards or more. Craver had a great game against Georgia with 75 yards.

Key notes from McGee’s thoughts on Craver

• I think we have to be excited about Craver. We need difference makers at wide receiver. That's the one group that we agree was the biggest underperformer, on offense at least. It has been the case for several years now. We've been spoiled at A&M with quick, great receivers. I'm biased toward Ryan Swope. We had Christian Kirk, Mike Evans and Josh Reynolds. We had guys who were game changers in college and the NFL.
   
• It's getting open at the wide receiver position. Last year, they couldn’t. It's difficult for a quarterback and for the third-and-long with the tight window and two high safeties. Then you get pressure, and there are good defensive ends in the SEC. Having a guy who can get it done, and they handed the ball to him. He did kick returns as a receiver, too. In my opinion, KC Concepcion and Craver from the spring game both look good.

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