Explosive performance sees Aggie receiver outstrip peers to earn national award

Mario Craver has been named the AP national player of the week after torching an elite Notre Dame secondary this past Saturday, playing the key role for the Aggies in taking down the Fighting Irish.

Craver recorded an eye-popping seven catches for 207 yards against the Irish, who came into the year boasting two of the best corners in the entire nation in Christian Gray and preseason first-team all-American Leonard Moore. He made them look foolish on several occasions, including on his highlight play where he caught a ball and took it 86 yards for a touchdown.

Craver has been nothing short of a revelation for this Texas A&M football team so far this year. There was a lot of talk about KC Concepcion, who has also been absolutely stellar for the Aggies, but Craver has really leapt off the screen to anyone watching the Aggies. After what he did in South Bend this past Saturday, this is an extremely well-deserved award.

Mario Craver named AP Player of the week after massively productive game against Notre Dame

Craver has put out some unbelievably productive numbers in his first few games in Aggie maroon, and now is the leading receiver in the conference— and nation— through only three games, far outstripping the field in yards per reception in particular.

It has been nine years since the Aggies recorded a 1,000-yard receiver, and Craver, with 443 yards already, is on pace to absolutely blow that mark out of the water. If he continues on this pace— which would be bold, of course— he would be almost at 2,000 yards by the end of the regular season alone.

Craver has a chance to mark his name down in Texas A&M history if he puts together a season like that— again, that's not exactly something we can count on as likely, but he's blown right by our expectations so far just like he did to those Notre Dame defensive backs.

Congrats to Mario— I'm sure this is only the first of many honors to come for the Aggie receiver.