Amari Niblack is one his second stop since leaving Alabama following the 2023 season, but Texas A&M coach Mike Elko had good things to say about the tight end at SEC Media Days on Thursday.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Niblack caught 20 passes for 327 yards and four touchdowns for the Crimson Tide in 2023, but had only five receptions and no touchdowns in six games at Texas last season. He hit the transfer portal again and landed with the Aggies, where he’ll be reunited with former Alabama receivers coach Holmon Wiggins.

“Niblack was an interesting one because he had spent time with Coach Holmon Wiggins at Alabama,” Elko said. “And so when he decided to enter the portal, there was some familiarity about more so what he had done when he was at Alabama. … We feel like he’s a hybrid kid that adds an awful lot of value in what he can do in the receiving game. He was a great addition for our program.”

Elko was also asked about transfer receiver Mario Craver, a former Clay-Chalkville High School star. Craver caught 17 passes for 368 yards and four touchdown as a true freshman at Mississippi State last season, averaging 21.6 yards per reception.

“Mario was a kid who had exceptional speed; I think we saw firsthand when we played him,” Elko said. “You could feel his speed on the field, and that was something that we really desperately wanted to go out and add. I think he’s done a really good job of going from a young athletic freshman to maybe a more developed SEC receiver heading into Year 2. And so excited for him.”

Texas A&M opens the 2024 season at home Aug. 30 vs. Texas-San Antonio.