Each Monday during the 2025 Texas A&M football season, we’ll identify a first or second-year Aggie player who delivered an exceptional performance over the weekend and earned the distinction of being the week’s “Overnight Sensation.”
Over the years, Texas A&M has yearned for elite performances at wideout.
In an era where high-octane passing attacks dominate headlines, the 12th Man has watched fellow SEC programs churn out elite receivers.
The hunger for a top-notch pass-catcher has only grown as A&M is one of five teams in the league to not have a 1,000-yard guy in the last five seasons.
On Saturday night at Kyle Field, a lengthy craving was subsided with a flavorful first taste.
Against UTSA, Mario Craver hauled in a pair of touchdowns and 122 yards, the most in an A&M debut since the beloved Christian Kirk in 2015.
There was no better way for Craver to introduce himself to Kyle Field than a first-touch trip to the end zone. The Mississippi State transfer turned a quick screen pass from Marcel Reed into a 24-yard touchdown, eluding defenders to cross the goal line and give the Aggies a 14-3 lead.
"That was a good full-circle moment for me," Craver said postgame on Saturday. "That's what I've been trying to do. These last nine months, I have been focused on this first game. Trying to put good stuff on tape because I felt last year I didn't do that."
Thanks to fellow transfer receiver KC Concepcion and his two touchdowns, the Maroon & White took a two-score lead, but Craver wasn't done.
Of his eight catches, five came in the second half. Craver remained reliable for Reed and did not have a drop in his Aggie debut. In the third quarter, all three of Craver's grabs were 20-plus yards.
The Birmingham native's second touchdown of the day was initially caught behind the line of scrimmage, where Craver used his speed to go untouched and coast into the endzone.
"I have always been a ball-in-hand guy," Craver said. "That's what they brought me here for, run after the catch situations. For me, it's just something that I do. That's my job."
Perhaps Craver's most impressive stat of the night was his 98 yards after the catch. Postgame, Mike Elko emphasized the progress made in the pass blocking game, and Craver reaped the benefits of it. However, Craver's slippery tendencies also played a part as the sophomore was elusive on Saturday night.
"Ashton (Bethel-Roman) and Terry Bussey did a great, phenomenal job today blocking on the perimeter," Craver said. "I wouldn't be able to make those plays without them."
Between Craver and Concepcion, Collin Klein has two receivers with the skillset to have extremely productive seasons. As for Reed, the redshirt sophomore quarterback knows the kind of weapons he has to work with.
"It's the same thing I said over the summer," Reed said. "We have an explosive receiver room this season. They showed that. I got them the ball probably five yards off the line of scrimmage, and they turned them into 30-40 yard plays. That's what they can do."
The wait for a 1,000-yard type of receiver has been long for A&M fans, and nothing would taste sweeter than seeing one of their own finally break the drought.
And after the first taste, their craving could be filled in 2025.
Craver's stats vs. UTSA
Receptions: 8
Targets: 10
Yards: 122
Touchdowns: 2
Average yards per catch: 15.3
