Donaven McCulley

Donaven McCulley
Michigan Wolverines
Position	Wide receiver
Class	Senior
Personal information
Born:	January 15, 2003 (age 22)
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career history
College	Indiana (2021–2024); Michigan (2025–present);
High school	Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Indiana)
	Stats at ESPN;

Donaven McCulley (born January 15, 2003) is an American college football wide receiver for the Michigan Wolverines. He previously played for the Indiana Hoosiers, as both a receiver and quarterback.

Early life and high school

McCulley attended Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. As a junior, he completed 63% of his passes for 1,958 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also adding 563 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.^[1] Coming out of high school, McCulley was rated as a four-star recruit, the 3rd overall player in Indiana, the 23rd overall quarterback and the 319th overall player in the class of 2021. McCulley committed to play college football for the in-state Indiana Hoosiers over offers from schools such as Purdue, Iowa, Missouri and Ole Miss.^[2]

College career

Indiana

McCulley enrolled at Indiana University in 2021. In week 10, McCulley made his first collegiate start as a freshman, completing 14 of his 25 pass attempts for 242 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing 11 times for four yards in a 38-35 loss versus Maryland.^[3] In his first season, he completed 35 of 82 passes for 475 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, also rushing for 135 yards and two touchdowns in seven games for the Hoosiers.^[4] Before the 2022 season, McCulley switched his position from quarterback to wide receiver.^[5] That season he hauled in 16 receptions for 169 yards and a touchdown.^[6] In 2023, McCulley totaled 48 receptions for 644 yards and six touchdowns in his second season as a receiver,^[7] earning an All-Big Ten honorable mention.^[8] After the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal after head coach Tom Allen was fired.^[9] McCulley soon exited the portal and returned to the Hoosiers under new head coach Curt Cignetti in 2024.^[10] Midway through the season, McCulley left Indiana and entered the NCAA transfer portal again, using the year to redshirt.^[11] He played in four games and had two catches for 21 yards and a touchdown.^[12]

Michigan

On December 13, 2024, McCulley transferred to the University of Michigan to play for Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines.^[13]

Personal life

McCulley's older brother, Derin, played college football for the Ball State Cardinals as a defensive back.^[14]

References

^ Blau, Jon. "Lawrence North QB Donaven McCulley picks IU football: 'I just can't wait to represent my state.'". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Blau, Jon. "Indiana lands state's top QB". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Cohen, Matt. "'He didn't flinch.' IU freshman QB Donaven McCulley shows flashes in first college start". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Dopirak, Dustin. "Switch from QB to WR was Donaven McCulley's idea as IU sophomore eyes quicker path to field". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Doyel, Gregg. "Indiana football: Donaven McCulley move from QB to WR". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Brown, Zion. "Donaven McCulley's move to WR paying off for IU: 'Just tell yourself you're unguardable.'". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Niziolek, Michael. "IU football WR Donaven McCulley hurt in FIU win, 'wasn't medically cleared to go back in.'". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ McMann, Aaron. "Michigan lands former all-Big Ten receiver from transfer portal". MLive.com. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Niziolek, Michael. "Indiana football's breakout receiver Donaven McCulley is transferring". The Herald-Times. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Osterman, Zach. "Donaven McCulley to return to IU as Curt Cignetti fends off Michigan, SEC suitors for WR". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Glensek, Matthew; Osterman, Zach. "Indiana football WR Donaven McCulley enters transfer portal midseason". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Connolly, Matt. "Donaven McCulley transfer: Six schools emerge early for former Indiana WR". On3.com. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Alter, Marlowe. "Michigan football earns transfer portal commit from Indiana WR Donaven McCulley: Report". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Neddenriep, Kyle. "Lawrence North QB Donaven McCulley has the look of a star in the making". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

External links

Indiana Hoosiers bio

[1] Blau, Jon. "Lawrence North QB Donaven McCulley picks IU football: 'I just can't wait to represent my state.'". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[2] Blau, Jon. "Indiana lands state's top QB". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[3] Cohen, Matt. "'He didn't flinch.' IU freshman QB Donaven McCulley shows flashes in first college start". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[4] Dopirak, Dustin. "Switch from QB to WR was Donaven McCulley's idea as IU sophomore eyes quicker path to field". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[5] Doyel, Gregg. "Indiana football: Donaven McCulley move from QB to WR". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[6] Brown, Zion. "Donaven McCulley's move to WR paying off for IU: 'Just tell yourself you're unguardable.'". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[7] Niziolek, Michael. "IU football WR Donaven McCulley hurt in FIU win, 'wasn't medically cleared to go back in.'". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[8] McMann, Aaron. "Michigan lands former all-Big Ten receiver from transfer portal". MLive.com. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[9] Niziolek, Michael. "Indiana football's breakout receiver Donaven McCulley is transferring". The Herald-Times. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[10] Osterman, Zach. "Donaven McCulley to return to IU as Curt Cignetti fends off Michigan, SEC suitors for WR". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[11] Glensek, Matthew; Osterman, Zach. "Indiana football WR Donaven McCulley enters transfer portal midseason". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[12] Connolly, Matt. "Donaven McCulley transfer: Six schools emerge early for former Indiana WR". On3.com. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[13] Alter, Marlowe. "Michigan football earns transfer portal commit from Indiana WR Donaven McCulley: Report". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[14] Neddenriep, Kyle. "Lawrence North QB Donaven McCulley has the look of a star in the making". IndyStar. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

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