Senior receiver Donaven McCulley is leaving Indiana’s football team, an Indiana Athletics spokesperson told the Indiana Daily Student on Tuesday.
McCulley is entering the transfer portal, the spokesperson said, and has been removed from the Hoosiers’ roster. The 6-foot-5, 203-pound wideout caught two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown in four appearances this season.
A native of Indianapolis, McCulley attended Lawrence North High School. He arrived in Bloomington before the 2021 season, starting his collegiate career as a quarterback before transitioning to receiver in the spring of 2022.
In 2023, McCulley led the Hoosiers in receiving, catching 48 passes for 644 yards and six touchdowns. He was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
McCulley initially entered the transfer portal Nov. 27, 2023, one day after Indiana fired head coach Tom Allen. But after entering talks with new head coach Curt Cignetti, McCulley returned three weeks later.
The 21-year-old McCulley drew criticism this spring from Cignetti, who said McCulley needed to pick up his play in practice. McCulley performed well over the final two weeks of spring ball but failed to regain his starting spot this fall.
McCulley suffered an upper-body injury in the Hoosiers’ season-opening 31-7 victory over Florida International University on Aug. 31 and missed the following game. He returned Sept. 14 against UCLA.
But McCulley’s role in Indiana’s offense has been minimal. Cignetti said in a press conference Sept. 23 that McCulley was still trying to get back in the swing of things after his injury.
McCulley caught a 12-yard touchdown in the Hoosiers’ most recent game, a 42-28 triumph over Maryland on Sept. 28, which marked his first reception since Week 1.
Barring a change of heart, that grab appears be the last of McCulley’s 66 in the cream and crimson.
Indiana, without McCulley, returns to action at 3:30 p.m. EST Saturday against Northwestern at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Illinois.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Jhett Garrett (@jhettgarrett) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
