Texas A&M is gearing up for another big season and Mario Craver is sure to play a big role in that, with the Aggie receiver boasting a special skill.
Texas A&M is fresh off the best season in recent memory, as the Aggies rolled to an 11-2 record and debut berth in the College Football Playoff.
Of course, the road toward a championship still came up short, but the mindset around the program seems to have taken a total shift under the direction of head coach Mike Elko.
While it takes more than one unforgettable year to change the narrative, there are a few good reasons for Aggie faithful to get their hopes up again for the upcoming season.
One of the starring pieces for Texas A&M in its breakout outing was wide receiver Mario Craver, who lined up next to future NFL Draft first-round KC Concepcion to create a lethal passing attack for the Aggies.
Although Concepcion moved on to the next stage of his career, Craver is set to suit up again for Texas A&M, much to the joy of the team and fans alike.
In his first year in College Station, Craver tallied nearly 60 catches and over 900 yards through the air while reaching the end zone four time. However, there is one other notable stat that sticks out for Craver that could give the Aggies an edge in pursuit of even greater achievements in 2026.
According to 247Sports, Craver enters the season with the fourth highest yards after catch in the nation. He posts an average of 8.7 yards following a reception across his career.
He was narrowly behind A.J. Wilson of UTSA, who averaged 8.8, and trailed new Texas Tech receiver Malcolm Simmons at 9.6 and Oklahoma State's Wyatt Young, who led them all at 10.7.
Obviously, Elko would like to see Craver connect with Aggies star quarterback Marcel Reed on more than a few deep balls. And the downfield threat will definitely be there with the pair.
Despite that skillset, Craver's noted ability to elude defenders and pick up crucial yardage after snagging passes has the possibility to be the most pivotal piece of another dynamic Aggie offense.
In the many challenging matchups Texas A&M will face in the SEC and potentially beyond, the Aggies will assuredly face situations where the difference of a yard or two could mean a huge victory or a crushing defeat.
Craver will likely be a target in those situations and the knowledge that Reed may not have to unload a missile deep the field will grant the Aggies peace of mind and make opposing defenses have to work that much harder to shut them down.
Many more Aggies will need to meet the moment for Texas A&M to reach the same heights that the program is trying to make an expectation, but starting with a proven veteran like Craver is a luxury that not many others can match.
