Indiana football WR Donaven McCulley enters transfer portal midseason
IU football 5-0 under Curt Cignetti: ‘We’re not satisfied.’
Indiana beat Maryland 42-28 on Saturday to improve to 5-0 for the first time since 1967.
IU football senior receiver Donaven McCulley has entered the transfer portal, a source confirmed to IndyStar.
A former standout quarterback at Lawrence North, McCulley moved to receiver after his freshman season in 2021 (475 passing yards, two TDs, two INTs) and had a breakout finish to last season. In the final five games of 2023, McCulley caught 28 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention.
He entered the transfer portal following the firing of Tom Allen as IU coach, but was coerced back to Bloomington by Curt Cignetti, despite heavy interest from Texas A&M, Penn State and Michigan.
More: Is IU a surprise 5-0 team? Not to coach Curt Cignetti
More: IU lands in top 25 rankings after first 5-0 start since 1967
During spring practice, Cignetti said McCulley “need(ed) to pick it up a little bit,” as IU brought in a number of experienced receivers in the portal, including Elijah Sarratt (James Madison), Miles Cross (SMU), Myles Price (Ohio) and Ke’Shawn Williams (Wake Forest).
McCulley caught one pass in the season-opening win over FIU, but was hurt in the game and missed the Western Illinois game. But even before his injury, he found himself sliding down the depth chart of a crowded receivers room. His only other catch this season came last week in IU’s win over Maryland, when he hauled in a 12-yard touchdown grab in the 42-28 win.
Because he’s played in four games or less this season, he will maintain a year of eligibility.
Linebacker Nahji Logan (UMass transfer) and safety Tyrik McDaniel also entered the portal as grad transfers, per 247Sports.
IU is 5-0 for the first time since 1967 and ranked No. 24 in the latest coaches poll. The Hoosiers travel to Evanston to play Northwestern at 3:30 p.m., Saturday.
Indiana football receiving stat leaders 2024
| Name | Rec | Yds | TD |
| Elijah Sarratt | 22 | 378 | 2 |
| Omar Cooper Jr. | 16 | 328 | 3 |
| Myles Price | 16 | 246 | 0 |
| Miles Cross | 13 | 184 | 1 |
| Ke’Shawn Williams | 9 | 96 | 3 |
| Zach Horton | 8 | 85 | 1 |
| Andison Coby | 2 | 62 | 1 |
| Sam West | 1 | 37 | 0 |
| Justice Ellison | 2 | 24 | 0 |
| Ty Son Lawton | 3 | 22 | 0 |
| Donaven McCulley | 2 | 21 | 1 |
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