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.”
The nation's leading receiver dons Maroon & White every Saturday.
For that first time in 12 years, that can be said about a Texas A&M receiver.
It has been a long drought without true explosive game-breakers on the perimeter, but the Aggies' portal addition of Mario Craver quenched a dying thirst.
The 12th Man saw flashes in A&M's 2-0 start against UTSA and Utah State, but Craver's ability shined under the brightest of lights.
In A&M's wildly dramatic top-10 upset at Notre Dame, the Mississippi State transfer registered a whopping 207 yards on seven receptions, the most receiving yards by an Aggie in a single game since Mike Evans' 287 against Auburn in 2013.
"We had a lot of explosive plays," quarterback Marcel Reed said. "I said before, our offense was going to be explosive. That's the name of the game for us. I think we did a really good job of that today."
One of the most spectacular Aggie receptions seen in quite some time, Craver made three Irish defenders miss before speeding away for an 86-yard house call.
A&M's most productive quarter of the year up to this point, Craver had 75 yards in the second quarter alone. He catapulted the offense forward with a chain-moving grab on each of A&M's three touchdown drives in the frame.
Down 40-34 with less than three minutes to go, A&M's game-winning march would not have been possible without a 34-yard grab from Craver. The biggest pickup of the biggest drive, the Birmingham native moved the ball across midfield, increasing the chances of the upset.
Nate Boerkircher's leaping grab sealed the deal.
"We felt like we would win outside," head coach Mike Elko said. "We went into the game believing we would win outside. I think we did."
Through three games, Craver has accumulated 443 receiving yards, sitting atop the nation's receiving leaderboard. Similarly, the aforementioned Evans led the nation after Week 3 in 2013 with 518 yards.
Pretty good company.
With the bye on the horizon, the sweet taste of victory will be savored around Bryan-College Station before Auburn comes to town in two weeks.
And when Craver slips on that #1 jersey on Sept. 27, his pursuit to stay at No. 1 will continue.
Craver's stats vs. Notre Dame
Receptions: 7
Targets: 12
Yards: 207
Touchdowns: 1
Average yards per catch: 29.6
Craver’s 2025 stats
Receptions: 20
Targets: 28
Yards: 443
Touchdowns: 4
Average yards per catch: 22.15
