Wide Receiver Donaven McCulley Withdraws From Transfer Portal, Returns to Indiana

New Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti made perhaps the biggest move of his brief tenure on Thursday, convincing leading wide receiver Donaven McCulley to withdraw from the transfer portal and play for the Hoosiers in 2024.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley announced Friday his decision to withdraw from the transfer portal and return to Bloomington for his senior season.

This marks arguably the biggest recruiting win or roster retention move in the early weeks of new head coach Curt Cignetti's tenure at Indiana. 

After leading the Hoosiers with 48 receptions, 644 yards and six touchdowns, losing McCulley would have been a major hit to Indiana's offensive outlook in 2024, unless it was able to aptly replace him. But retaining the 6-foot-5 receiver gives Indiana a foundational piece in year one under Cignetti.

McCulley turned away offers from Texas A&M, Kentucky, UCLA, Nebraska, Michigan, South Florida, Mississippi State, NC State, South Carolina and Penn State.

McCulley posted career-high numbers against Illinois, hauling in 11 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns, while also drawing four pass interference penalties. Perhaps his most impressive catch of the season came in a win over Wisconsin, when he made a one-handed snag for a touchdown.

With now two years at wide receiver under his belt, the former quarterback McCulley is primed for an All-Big Ten caliber senior season in 2023. 

Indiana also landed Ohio quarterback transfer Kurtis Rourke on Thursday, who'll likely enter 2024 as the starter with one year of remaining eligibility. Though McCulley is back, Indiana's offense could look much different next season. Aside from retaining offensive line coach Bob Bostad, Cignetti brought offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri with him from James Madison. 

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