CBS Sports Picks the Former Indiana Receiver as the Wolverines’ Top New Asset
The numbers on paper might not shout it yet, but Michigan football fans might want to get familiar with the name Donaven McCulley. CBS Sports certainly has — naming the former Indiana wideout as the most important transfer for the Wolverines heading into the 2025 season.
And the reasoning? It’s less about past stats and more about what Michigan needs right now — a dynamic, go-to receiver to light up a passing game that’s been stumbling in the dark.
A Fresh Offensive Identity, but Still Some Blanks to Fill
Michigan’s offseason wasn’t quiet. Head coach Sherrone Moore made headlines by cleaning house offensively — waving goodbye to offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell and bringing in Chip Lindsey, a proven play-caller with stops at UCF, North Carolina, and Auburn.
With Lindsey’s arrival and five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood waiting in the wings, expectations for the Wolverines’ air game are soaring.
But here’s the catch: who’s catching?
That’s the void Donaven McCulley was brought in to fill. Michigan fans are hoping the 6-foot-5 wideout, who started his college career as a quarterback at Indiana before transitioning to receiver, can become a matchup nightmare on the outside.
Why McCulley, Not Haynes or Keene?
It’s not like Michigan was short on transfer talent. Former Alabama running back Justice Haynes turned heads. Quarterback Mikey Keene’s move from Fresno State gave the team experience under center. And then there’s the beef: defensive tackles Damon Payne and Tré Williams will plug up the middle.
Because when CBS Sports looked at which transfers might move the needle the most for potential playoff contenders, they didn’t just see an athletic receiver. They saw the keystone piece to a rebuilding passing offense. Without someone like McCulley stretching the field, Lindsey’s system won’t hit its stride. With him? It might just click.
From Bloomington to Ann Arbor — A Rare Career Arc
McCulley’s college football journey has been anything but ordinary.
He came to Indiana as a quarterback, saw limited action in his first year, and then made the rare switch to receiver. It wasn’t just a gimmick — he committed to the position, and in 2023 and 2024 became a solid target for the Hoosiers, hauling in a combined 72 catches and 9 touchdowns over two seasons.
The move to Michigan now puts him under a much brighter spotlight.
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McCulley’s 2024 season at Indiana:
• 42 receptions
• 621 yards
• 5 touchdowns
None of those numbers jump off the page like a Biletnikoff Award finalist’s might. But they do paint a picture of a reliable, experienced wideout who’s still on the rise. And at Michigan, surrounded by better protection and a stronger quarterback group, the ceiling is higher.
What’s Michigan’s Big Offensive Question?
Quarterback play? With Mikey Keene holding the fort and Bryce Underwood developing, they’re in decent shape.
Running back room? Haynes and holdovers from last year should be enough to keep the chains moving.
Offensive line? Not elite, but returning experience and decent depth.
But wide receiver?
That’s where the uncertainty lingers. And that’s exactly where McCulley fits in.
“There’s a lot of pressure on Michigan to modernize their passing game,” one Big Ten assistant coach told Wolverines Wire anonymously. “And they know it. If they’re gonna spread teams out, they need a tall, fast guy who can win on the perimeter. That’s McCulley.”
Michigan’s Transfer Class — Impact Players at Every Level
Let’s be real — Michigan didn’t reload quietly this offseason. Just look at the talent pipeline that’s flowing in:
| Player | Position | Previous School | Expected Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mikey Keene | QB | Fresno State | Likely starting quarterback |
| Donaven McCulley | WR | Indiana | WR1 or WR2 target |
| Justice Haynes | RB | Alabama | Change-of-pace back |
| Damon Payne | DT | Alabama | Interior defensive anchor |
| Tré Williams | DT | Clemson | Run stopper |
| Troy Bowles | LB | Georgia | Will compete for LB snaps |
And that’s before you even factor in Underwood or the incoming freshmen.
Still, McCulley stands out. Not because he’s flashy or the most hyped, but because he fills the exact hole the Wolverines can’t afford to leave open if they want to survive Big Ten play — or crash the College Football Playoff party again.
A New Season, a New Spotlight
Donaven McCulley knows what he’s walking into.
He’s not a freshman with nothing to lose. He’s not an under-the-radar addition. CBS Sports has essentially placed a target on his back — saying this is the guy who could make or break Michigan’s playoff dreams in 2025.
That’s a lot to carry.
But if the revamped offensive staff is right, and if McCulley lives up to what Michigan’s been missing — a vertical threat who can high-point a ball and make plays in traffic — then it might not be just another step in his odd journey from quarterback to wideout.
It might be the breakout year that puts him on NFL radars — and keeps Michigan in the CFP conversation all the way to December.
