College football season is nearly a quarter of the way through, and the players are not just showing their talent on the field, they’re flexing market power off it. And one among that list is a Texas A&M transfer WR who torched Notre Dame for 207 yards and earned AP player of the week honors. But Mike Elko has players who also use the money they make through NIL for a good cause.

Mario Craver leads the nation in receiving yards with 443, and already has two TD receptions. And that’s exactly why companies are giving him massive NIL opportunities. Aggies recruiter Jaxson Callaway confirms on X that FanSpark has inked a deal with Craver. He will be joining them as a “Launch Athlete,” where he will make exclusive content for the fans and will share it on the platform.

This partnership will allow fans to subscribe, purchase merchandise, send tips, and even grab other premium features through the app. With this deal, Craver continues his run towards becoming one of the nation’s top NIL earners at the WR position. But this isn’t the first time Craver is making an NIL announcement. Even before starting this season, Craver signed an NIL deal with Topps Trading Cards.

As per Mario Craver’s agent, Darren Wilson, that deal runs through April 2026 and will feature Craver on four collectible formats: autograph cards, relic cards, chrome cards, and specialty sets. What’s interesting is fans can find them in various local retail stores nationwide. All this hype makes sense when looking at Craver’s resume. Last season he posted 17 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns with Mississippi State. He also had 21.6 yards per reception. In December of last year, he was acquired by the Aggies during the offseason via the transfer portal.

During the season opener against UTSA, Craver recorded 8 receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns. His big-play ability stood out as he made turning short passes into explosive gains look easy. He had 98 yards after catch in that game. What sets him apart is his rare combination of speed and route running. Mike Elko couldn’t help but praise his ability: “You could feel his speed on the field. That was something that we really desperately wanted to go out and add.” After Week 3, the Associated Press announced Craver as their AP Player of the Week. He had a monster game with seven receptions, 207 yards, and one touchdown on the road against Notre Dame. But Craver is not the only Aggies player in the news about his NIL.

Mike Elko’s safety grabs massive deal

Marcus Ratcliffe is making a big impact off the field using his NIL earnings for a greater cause. Talking to Andrew Monaco, the voice of the Aggies, Ratcliffe shared how he found his purpose in life and a way to give back. “We were talking, and I was like, ‘I want to do something,'” Ratcliffe said. “I have money now, I’m capable of spending it, and I want to spend it on something good.”

That idea gave birth to mission 312. A project that honors his family’s military roots. “My father and my grandfather, and a bunch of my family have served in the military, so that’s something really personal to me,” Ratcliffe said. “…So we partnered with Walk Among Heroes, and for every turnover last year, I donated $312 to send World War II veterans back to Normandy on a trip, which happened this past summer.” This fits in perfectly with the rich military history of the college.

For Ratcliffe this mission perfectly matches with Aggies’ core values that revolve around selfless service. This season, Ratcliffe plans to maintain the pace, giving $312 per turnover and hinted at adding some more features to this practice. The Aggies will be back to start SEC play when they face Auburn on Saturday. Ratcliffe may not get as many chances for turnovers in that game.