In this transfer portal, NIL era of college football, you must recruit high school, JUCOs, the transfer portal, and your own locker room. New Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti has taken that to heart. Offensive tackle Carter Smith has declared his intention to return to the Hoosiers.
According to Jeff Rabjohns of 247sports, wide receiver Donaven McCulley has withdrawn his name from the portal and is returning to Indiana for the 2024 season. This win is big for Cignetti, the new coaching staff, and the Hoosier's football program. Indiana lost starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby and running back Trent Howland to the portal.
Sorsby signed with Cincinnati, while Howland signed with Minnesota. Cignetti and his staff addressed these losses in the portal, signing Kurtis Rourke from Ohio and Justice Ellison from Wake Forest.
McCulley had quite the share of suitors during his time in the portal. Michigan, Penn State, Texas A&M, Kentucky, and Virginia were among the many offers he received. However, Cignetti, offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Mike Shanahan, and quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri all had a hand in re-recruiting the Indianapolis Lawrence North High School product.
Recruited as a quarterback out of high school, McCulley transitioned to wide receiver his sophomore season. He led the Hoosiers in receptions (48), receiving yards (644), and receiving touchdowns (six) last season, his second entire season as a wide receiver.
“I just go out there every play and tell myself, ‘You’re unguardable,’” McCulley said after Indiana’s’”‘You’re“ upset of Wisconsin. “Just try to impose your will because I’m 6’5, 210…I feel like I need to impose my will on almost every play. That’s a big thing for me.”That’s
Former IU quarterback Brendan Sorsby said about McCulley: “It’s easy to throw it out to a guy that’s that big and makes that kind of catch.”
McCulley played as a true freshman, so he has one year of eligibility left.