Mario Craver is ESPN’s No. 86 ranked player in college football right now, the *only* Texas A&M Aggie to make the top 100. And if you think he’s out here celebrating that, you don’t know Craver at all. This dude has a national title on his mind, not some individual list. He’s not letting outside opinions mess with his head, plain and simple.
Craver’s 2025 Domination and Coach Elko’s High Praise
You gotta respect Craver’s focus, especially after the year he had in 2025. After transferring from Mississippi State after his freshman season in 2024, the receiver made nine starts for the Aggies, hauling in 59 passes for 917 yards and four touchdowns. That monster campaign led to Texas A&M’s first ever College Football Playoff appearance. At the end of that season, ESPN even named him the 87th best player in the country. Now, his fellow wideout KC Conception and defensive lineman Cashius Howell were also on that list, but both of them are gone, off to the NFL. This year, Craver, who’s 5-foot-9, is expected to be the top target for quarterback Marcel Reed, no doubt. Coach Mike Elko couldn’t stop raving about him during SEC Media Days, calling Craver “one of the more explosive, dynamic slot receivers I’ve been able to be around.” Elko added that Craver does a “really, really good job of creating separation” and “plays bigger than his size.” He’s definitely betting on a “really, really big year” from Craver, as long as he stays healthy and consistent.
“That’s Their Opinion”: Craver Dismisses the Noise
So, with all that talent, how did only *one* Aggie land on ESPN’s top 100 this year? Texas schools are loaded, sure, with 16 players from the state making the list. Texas edge Colin Simmons is way up at No. 3, and the Longhorns alone have three other guys in the top 15: wide receiver Cam Coleman, quarterback Arch Manning, and offensive lineman Trevor Goosby. In total, *seven* Longhorns made the cut, plus six from Texas Tech, one from Houston, and one from SMU. But Craver? When asked if having just one Aggie was accurate, he was blunt: “That’s their opinion.” He’s more hyped about the team’s biggest offseason improvement, which he says is their football IQ. He believes it’ll show up in the pace of play and how fast teammates communicate. “We’re a smarter football team,” Craver insists, and you gotta love that internal confidence.
The Aggies kick off their season this Saturday at 6 p.m. at Kyle Field against Missouri State. Last year’s 11-win season was great, but those final two losses to Texas and Miami in the CFP? That stings. Craver isn’t chasing stats this year. He’s got his eyes locked on one prize: a national title. He said it himself: “We haven’t really won anything… Win a national championship. That’s my only goal.” Get ready, Aggies, because it sounds like this team is coming for the hardware.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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