From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Michigan WR Donaven McCulley.
No. 1 Donaven McCulley/WR Michigan – 6044, 203 pounds (Graduate Student)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Donaven McCulley 6044/203 10 1/4 32 5/8 80 7/8
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
THE GOOD
– Big frame with large hands
– High points ball well and routinely makes plays above his head
– Tracks and adjusts to the football well, bailing out quarterback inaccuracy
– Hands catcher who plucks away from frame
– Size makes him hard to tackle and shows strength/power to run through and bounce off defenders
– YAC ability with a little wiggle to make plays in space
– Willing blocker able to control when he locks on
– Quarterback background helps him understand how defenses think
The Bad
– Build-up runner without much burst
– Struggles to adjust tempo throughout route or at break point
– Rounds off routes over the middle
– Can be late to ID safeties rolling into box and miss blocking them in run game; overall run blocking a little less impressive than expected for his frame
– Lacked volume as receiver with overall unimpressive career production
– Didn’t face much press and struggled to separate when cornerbacks challenged him
– Doesn’t have special teams value/background
– College journey will be questioned after leaving Indiana mid-way through season
Stats
– Career: 105 receptions, 1,422 yards (13.5 YPR), and 11 touchdowns plus 73 rushes for 144 yards across 48 games
– 2025: 39 receptions, 588 yards (15.1 YPR), and 3 touchdowns plus two rushes for 5 yards
– 85 career pass attempts, 82 of them coming as freshman while playing QB; two touchdowns and two interceptions
– Threw three passes after making switch to WR (two completions, one touchdown)
– Career: 1,711 receiver/non-QB snaps (1,504 outside receiver, 201 in slot)
– 2025: 714 offensive snaps (644 outside, 68 in slot)
– 48 career special teams snaps (38 in 2022)
– PFF’s No. 228 overall WR grade in 2025 among 432 qualifiers (No. 207 receiving grade)
– 14.0 ADOT in 2025 (82nd in NFL) and 7.1 percent drop rate (three total)
– Six career drops (5.4 percent) with 13 forced missed tackles (six in 2025)
– Threw for over 6,000 yards and 47 touchdowns in HS career
Injury History
– 2024: suffered upper body injury in season-opener against FIU, missing following week
– 2025: lower body injury against Purdue and didn’t return but returned for following game
Bio
– Turned 23 in January 2026
– Four-star recruit from Indianapolis, Indiana
– Spent 2021-2024 at Indiana, transferred to Michigan for 2025 season
– Left Indiana late September/early October of 2024, entering portal midseason after appearing in just one game
– Chose Indiana over Cincinnati, Iowa, Michigan State, and other regional MAC/Big Ten schools
– Wanted to transfer to Michigan after ’23 season but academics/credits made that tough; chose Wolverines for fresh start and to be part of “something great”
– Began college career as QB for 2021 season, moved to WR in 2022; after switch, said he “always” wanted to play WR and admitted he “had” to play QB in HS
– Played basketball in HS
– High school teammates with Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr., serving as Cooper’s QB
– Worked with Steelers WRs Coach Adam Henry during 2022 season and first year at receiver
– Wore covered No. 1 jersey for Wolverines
Tape Breakdown
Donaven McCulley began his college career as a quarterback at Indiana. He finished it as a receiver at Michigan. His 2025 season was a fine one despite poor quarterback play from Bryce Underwood. McCulley often had to use every bit of his frame and leaping ability to haul in throws. He’s an above-the-rim prospect capable of going up and adjusting to the football.
McCulley’s size and strength helps him after the catch and he shows the ability to bounce off would-be tacklers or even occasionally make them grab air.
Negatively, McCulley is a one-note route runner without much burst or tempo to his route. Partly due to his frame and overall athletic profile and perhaps part to his newness to the position having only played it for really three seasons (since he basically didn’t see the field in 2024).
Though reps were limited, he struggled gaining separation over the middle against man coverage or the few times he saw corners rolled up on him.
Teams will dig into why he left Indiana, with well-respected Curt Cignetti at the helm, midway through the season. McCulley may have valid reasons and his bet on Michigan seemingly paid off, but it’s a question worth investigating. Cignetti wasn’t afraid to be openly critical of McCulley, though McCulley will say he asked for tough coaching. Ultimately, he got it. And left.
Conclusion
Overall, Donaven McCulley is a power forward type of wide receiver. I like his ability after the catch and perhaps his game will get better in time. But I generally sour on combat catch college receivers, even good ones like McCulley, with limited separation and route running. Their track record of NFL success against football’s best cornerbacks generally don’t work out.
My NFL comp is Geronimo Allison.
NFL Projection: Undrafted Free Agent
Steelers Depot Grade: 6.6 (Pure Backup)
Grade Range: 5.8-7.2
Games Watched: at Oklahoma (2025), vs Wisconsin (2025), at Maryland (2025)
Recommended for you