As the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine takes place over the next week in Indianapolis, eight former Michigan standouts will participate in the event, attempting to showcase their skills, attributes and abilities to scouts and coaches ahead of April's NFL Draft. A schedule of the event can be found here.
We preview what each former Wolverine invited brings to the Combine, looking back at their Michigan careers, at current draft projections and what to watch from them at the Combine.
Previously: Edge Derrick Moore, Edge/Linebacker Jaishawn Barham, defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny, linebacker Jimmy Rolder, tight end Marlin Klein, fullback Max Bredeson
Next up in our series is wide receiver Donaven McCulley
Career at Michigan
After an up and down career at Indiana that saw him start games at quarterback, then emerge as the Hoosiers' leading receiver in 2023 before a redshirt 2024 season, McCulley transferred to Michigan for a fifth and final collegiate season.
It would be hard to argue he didn't make an impact with the Wolverines. The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder from Indianapolis started all 13 games for the Wolverines. He caught 39 passes on 77 targets, totaling 588 receiving yards and three touchdowns. In those 39 receptions, he picked up 30 first downs, 183 yards after the catch, eight contested catches and forced six missed tackles, with three drops.
His big-play prowess was evident. Among 44 Big Ten receivers with at least 50 targets in 2025, McCulley ranked 32nd in receptions, 18th in receiving yards, seventh in yards per reception, sixth in average depth of target, 13th in contested catches and 16th in first downs. Efficiency was a shortcoming at times, however, as he ranked 42nd of 44 in passer rating when targeted, 43rd in reception rate, 25th in yards after the catch per reception, 26th in drop rate, 25th in yards per route run and 21st in contested catch rate. He recorded at least one catch in every game, and had four straight games with at least 45 receiving yards to close the season.
Latest projections
McCulley is not ranked in the NFL Mock Draft database.
McCulley is not projected to be selected in Pro Football Focus's three-round mock draft.
McCulley was not listed in The Athletic's top-100 prospects rankings
McCulley is No. 281 in CBS Sports' top 330 prospects, and the No. 43 wide receiver
What scouts will like
McCulley's size and catch radius should help him stand out as an outside receiving threat, particularly given his plus-mobility for that size. He has played for several offensive schemes, mostly underwhelming ones, and only switched to wide receiver midway through his collegiate career. That should give him good scheme awareness and football IQ in interviews with coaches and scouts. He had a knack for getting open, and was comfortable making a play on a 50-50 ball or through contact.
Coaches viewed him as a tough player comfortable with blocking, special teams and other roles that may be assessed to him as a lower-round draft pick.
Questions to answer
Perhaps more than anyone else representing Michigan in Indianapolis, McCulley really needs a good Combine to feel better about his chances at getting drafted. Verifiable athleticism and strength could go a long way to pushing the notion that, with a more refined passing game or consistency in coaches around him, his collegiate career may have looked different. NFL teams are willing to coach players new to the wide receiver position, but they generally need to pop athletically for teams to be willing to invest. McCulley appears to have NFL-caliber physical traits, but putting testing times to that perception greatly helps NFL teams see what Michigan's coaches saw.