Donaven McCulley is no longer on the Indiana football roster

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Donaven McCulley’s football playing career at Indiana is over.

As of Tuesday, McCulley was no longer listed on the Indiana football roster. Hoosiers On SI received confirmation from a source with knowledge of the situation that McCulley is no longer with the team.

It’s a turn of events that few would have predicted before the season. It wasn’t until Saturday’s 42:28 win over Maryland that McCulley caught a touchdown pass.

However, it was only one of two catches McCulley had in the four 2024 games he appeared in. McCulley had 2 catches for 21 yards and this touchdown catch against the Terrapins.

McCulley cannot enter the transfer portal immediately because he is not a graduate student. Access to the portal for non-graduate students begins in December.

Since McCulley only played four games — he missed the Western Illinois game after a helmet-to-helmet hit in the opener against Florida International — he could claim 2024 as a redshirt season at his next destination. Four games is the maximum number of games played to still qualify for a redshirt. McCulley did not redshirt early in his Indiana career.

McCulley’s return to the Indiana football team after the 2023 season was considered a coup for new Indiana coach Curt Cignetti. No returning Hoosier received the same attention as McCulley’s return.

After all, wide receiver was the strongest weapon Indiana’s offense had in the second half of the 2023 season. With Brendan Sorsby established as Indiana’s starting quarterback, McCulley – himself a converted quarterback – earned his second college position.

In the final five games of the 2023 season, McCulley recorded 28 catches for 420 yards and 5 touchdowns. That included an 11-catch game at Illinois. It was a significant jump in production. In the first seven games, McCulley had 20 catches for 224 yards and a touchdown.

When coach Tom Allen wasn’t hired by Indiana, McCulley entered the transfer portal. As a 6-foot-5 target, McCulley attracted a lot of interest.

However, when Cignetti was hired, McCulley ultimately decided to stay with the Hoosiers and confirmed his return on December 15.

“I was extremely excited when Donaven came back,” Cignetti later said. “We got the quarterback commitment and about two hours later Donaven called me. That was a great day. I really wasn’t expecting that because it said “Florida State” on the street.

In the spring, Cignetti challenged McCulley, saying he needed to “learn a little bit more.” Still, McCulley was considered an important player for the Hoosiers when fall camp opened.

When the season began, it was clear that McCulley needed to work his way into the rotation. He didn’t start in the first game. Myles Price, Elijah Sarratt, Miles Cross and Ke’Shawn Williams have all been targeted more heavily as the season has progressed.

McCulley’s only catch against Florida International in the opening game came with a price. He suffered a helmet-to-helmet blow and missed the next game against Western Illinois.

McCulley returned to Indiana’s game at UCLA on September 14, but has only played in 11 games in the three games since his return.

McCulley came to Indiana from Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis prior to the 2021 season. As a freshman, he played in seven games at quarterback, including four starting appearances. He moved to the wide receiver position for the 2022 season.

McCulley finished his Indiana career with 66 catches for 834 yards and eight touchdown passes. As a passer, McCulley completed 37 of 84 passes for 542 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

McCulley’s departure comes after six other Hoosiers left the program after the start of the season.