4-star in-state WR Mario Craver: Auburn ‘pushing as hard as they have ever been right now’

PINSON, ALABAMA – Auburn needs multiple receivers in 2024. Mario Craver, a 4-star receiver from Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville, has been on the Tigers’ radar for some time.

Craver is an On3 Industry 4-star recruit, meaning he holds a 4-star ranking no matter where you look. He is the No. 263 overall player in the nation, the No. 43 receiver, and the No. 15 player in the state of Alabama.

The recruitment of Craver has been somewhat of a rollercoaster ride. Since his last visit to Auburn, however, it was made clear where he stands with the Tigers.

“Most definitely,” Craver said. “Ever since my last visit I think they’re (Auburn) pushing as hard as they have ever been right now.”

Last Auburn visit made a difference

Craver last visited Auburn in March with his teammates, 4-stars D’Angelo Barber and Jac’Qawn McRoy.

“I liked the visit, I love the new coaching staff,” Craver said. “I think out of all the coaching staffs that I’ve seen since being a recruit, this by far has been the most engaged group. I feel like this the best coaching staff I have seen at Auburn so far.”

Tigers’ coach Hugh Freeze has become more involved with Craver since the last visit.

“I believe that Coach Freeze has a plan and he tells me that he needs playmakers from his state,” Craver said. “He wants to get them the ball and make the people in-state his main guys. That’s really something that’s big to me. I like to hear that from him.”

What is Freeze’s message for Craver?

“To be honest, it’s really just keeping my head on and focused,” Craver said. “He tells me all the time that I have the talent to go anywhere and play anywhere as long as I keep my head on straight. He’s always the type of guy that no matter what your decision is, he’s ok with it, and I like that about him too.”

Florida with the lead, Ole Miss making moves

Ole Miss has been working to get involved with Craver. Receivers with his size (5-foot-9 150 pounds) have excelled in Rebels’ head coach Lane Kiffin‘s offense.

“Ole Miss, last Tuesday I visited them,” Craver said. “I really didn’t know anything about them but Coach Kiffin and Coach Nix are solid. I like what they do with receivers like me.”

The Gators have recruited Craver very similarly to how Auburn has. That school has Craver’s attention the most right now–at least it did until he last visited Auburn.

“Florida, I really fell in love with Florida when I first went up there,” Craver said. “Really that has been the top for a minute until I visited Auburn for the last time. They’ve (Florida) really been in my top two,” Craver said. “Florida itself, The Swamp, the fans, the gear, literally it’s just like something I always wanted to be a part of.”

Even thought the last Auburn visit changed things, Florida still leads.

“I’d say Florida definitely has the edge right now,” Craver said.

QB commit White also involved

What is the offensive game plan at Auburn according to what Craver knows so far?

“They tell me that mostly it’s going to be getting in open space until they get that guy they actually trust completely,” Craver said. “I think Auburn’s game has never been the type to throw it down field, it’s always been a running offense. I’m ok with that because I’m in a running offense and you get more one-on-one opportunities on the outside. I like that.”

Auburn quarterback commit Walker White has been in communication as well. Craver does not know much about him yet.

“Not really, he’s been hitting me up,” Craver said. “I think he’s a cool dude from what we’ve been talking about, but I haven’t watched his film yet.”

Is it important having a quality quarterback in his class at Auburn?

“Most definitely,” Craver said. ‘I don’t want to have a quarterback problem when I get to college, that’s one thing I want to eliminate. With him going there, that’s definitely a plus.”

What’s next?

As for a final decision, that could come during his senior football season.

“I want to commit at my school so it will probably be sometime right before the season starts,” Craver said. “Or August, September sometime early during the season. I want to get it over with to go and win a state championship with my team.”

Auburn, Florida, and Ole Miss will get official visits. Those visits will hold a lot of weight with his final decision.

“That’s where you actually get the full experience of you being on the team and things like that,” Craver said.

With his teammate, DJ Barber, being such a high priority for Auburn’s staff, where does Craver think he ends up?

“I think as of right now, he’s liking them (Auburn),” Craver said about Barber. “It’s in-state and the opportunity in-state is always a plus. He’s the type of guy who loves his family. I think he will stay home.”

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