Donaven McCulley embracing Michigan WR legacy, praises freshmen making early impact

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines head into the 2025 season with renewed optimism that their passing game will take a big step forward. Transfer wide receiver Donaven McCulley will be a huge part of that.

The former Indiana wideout had a productive 2023 season with the Hoosiers, hauling in 48 catches for 644 yards and 6 touchdowns. Last year, he was banged up and fell down the depth chart under new head coach Curt Cignetti before entering the transfer portal.

Michigan had some cursory interest in McCulley after the 2023 season when he briefly entered the portal and opted back into Indiana. Now with a chance to make an impact in Ann Arbor, he has turned heads and should be the team’s top receiving threat.

 ”Coming in, I just wanted to be a guy that made plays and handled my business,” McCulley said on Monday. “So showed the team that I could do what they needed me to do to win. So now it’s like I’m becoming more of a vocal leader. I’m leading more by example and stuff like that. So that’s my progression from the spring.”

The work has paid off. McCulley took ownership of the room and Michigan has awarded him the No. 1 jersey heading into the season. He’s always worn it, but briefly switched to No. 13 because he had to earn it in Ann Arbor.

To get his number back, he had to immerse himself in the tradition at wide receiver.

“ I’ve done my research on the number one jersey and stuff like that, and it’s just awesome sitting there watching guys like Anthony Carter and David Terrell,” McCulley said. “I think David Terrell is my favorite. He’s my favorite one. I think I watched him the most because we have similar play styles and body types.

“I’ve always worn the number one. I feel like that’s just normal to me. But I know it’s special here at Michigan, and I’m gonna keep holding that to a standard. It’s something that I wanted, something that I told Coach Moore coming into the program, and that’s what I’m doing,”

Head coach Sherrone Moore made it clear when recruiting McCulley that if he wanted the famed Michigan jersey number, he was going to have to put his stamp on it in spring ball.

“When I was getting recruited, we had a talk and he was just like, ‘What do you want to come here?’ And No. 1 came up and [he said] you’re gonna have to earn it in the spring,” McCulley said. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. So I started out with 13. I earned it and I’m still earning it.”

McCulley has lofty goals for the 2025 season and hopes to add to the legacy of the No. 1 at Michigan.

“ [Individual goals] are at least [1,000 yards] and 10 touchdowns,” McCulley said. “[Team goals are to] win. Win every game.”

New Michigan wide receivers standing out

Michigan’s new-look wide receiver room also features three freshmen in Andrew Marsh, Jamar Browder and Jacob Washington, in addition to transfer Anthony Simpson. McCulley sees the potential of the young wideouts with fall camp in full swing.

“Man, those guys, they’re going to be something special,” McCulley said. “Marsh, he moves. I’ve never seen a freshman move as fluid and smooth as him. And then Jamar, as long as he stays aggressive, he’ll be perfectly fine. Uses his size well, too.

“[Washington is] pretty fast, I’m not going to lie. I think he used to run track as well. He’s smooth out of his breaks and stuff. He’s still got some learning to do. Just like all freshmen do, he’s got some learning to do, but they all look pretty good.” 

Simpson joins the program after playing for tight ends coach Steve Casula at UMass, where he had 57 catches for 792 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2023. His speed could affect the Michigan offense.

“He’s real quick. I’ve never seen somebody move how fast he moves,” McCulley said. “I haven’t seen a lot of Simp, but he’s progressing.”