Week Four's Overnight Sensation: Donovan Green, Tight End

Each Monday during the 2022 Texas A&M football season, we’ll identify a first or second-year Aggie player who delivered an exceptional performance over the weekend and earned the distinction of being the week’s ‘Overnight Sensation.’

The future is Green.

No, I’m not talking about renewable energy or the color green.

I’m talking about freshman tight end Donovan Green, whose performance helped the Aggies stun then-No. 10 Arkansas in the Southwest Classic, 23-21.

The freshman made two much-needed, chain-moving grabs in addition to an eight-yard catch in the first quarter. Averaging 16.7 yards a reception, Green’s three catches totaled 50 yards, and 19 of those yards Green fought for after the catch.

The Dickinson native is just another one of A&M’s young weapons to be unleashed. His 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame helped at the line of scrimmage to protect quarterback Max Johnson, but Green is more than just a blocker.

After what felt like a couple of games without it, the Aggies finally saw Jimbo Fisher’s tight-end loving offense find somewhat of a groove. On A&M’s first offensive drive of the second half, Green broke a tackle to gain 26-yards and a first down. The catch put the Aggies in great field position for Devon Achane to run into the end zone just three plays later.

“He's just growing and growing, more and more, and you can see him evolving and getting comfortable,” Fisher said. “Some of these young freshmen, you want to play them, but you've got to make sure you don't ask them to do too much too early. We're trying to feed him in there, and he's getting better and better.”

On third down with 9:15 left to play in the game, the Aggies needed 12-yards to keep the drive alive. As Johnson was pressured by Arkansas’ front, Green made a clutch sliding grab to secure the much-needed first down.

Green was a part of A&M’s historic No. 1 recruiting class in 2022 and ranked as the No. 4 tight end in the nation and No. 19 player in the state of Texas. The playmaker has already shown vast improvement from game one to now, with only two receptions before Saturday’s game.

Making a couple of crucial catches against a top-10 team showed the 12th Man just a small sample of Green’s potential in Maroon & White.

Green’s stats vs. Arkansas
Receptions: 3
Targets: 3
Yards: 50
Touchdowns: 0
Average per catch: 16.7

Green’s 2022 stats
Receptions: 5
Targets: 5
Yards: 80
Touchdowns: 0
Average per catch: 16.0