Donaven McCulley, WR, Indiana
Size:
Height: 6’5” | Weight: 205 lbs
Accomplishments:
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2023)
“Donaven McCulley is a developmental, big-body wide receiver who excels in playing above the rim and making contested catches by dominating the catch point with his great catch radius and strong frame to box out defenders.”
Strengths:
Elite catch radius
Prototypical X-receiver build
High-point specialist
Reliable hands-catcher
Concerns:
Limited route tree
Consistent separation
Raw (only two years at WR)
Explosiveness early in reps
Film Analysis:
Donaven McCulley began his career at Indiana as a dual-threat QB before transitioning to WR during the spring of 2022. A year after the position change, McCulley assumed the role of the offense’s X-receiver and leading receiver. He blends prototypical X-receiver size/build and high-point dominance to flash his developmental upside.
Facing man coverage, McCulley sells vertical routes well for someone with little experience at the position. His speed is more built up, with a long stride to push upfield. He uses a speed release and jab steps to gain an advantage to open grass. He has quick and sudden feet for a big-body receiver to get into his route quickly and put the DB in a trail position. He excels in working in the short to intermediate areas of the defense. McCulley runs slants, in-breaks, and comeback routes with his entire body to obtain leverage and position as the ball arrives. Even when DBs can run with him vertically, McCulley is excellent at the catch point with body control and strong hands to pluck the ball out of the air. He can uncover on back-shoulder fades down the sideline. His catch radius is great and difficult to overcome.
Zone coverages do not limit his impact. McCulley works well as a timing and rhythm receiver. He works the middle of the field well and gets to his spots on time for his QB. He can navigate the middle of the field like a pass-catching tight end with his height and frame. McCulley offers yards-after-catch potential, especially when facing zone coverages. As that big target, he is easy for the QB to spot and get the ball to. He can power through would-be tacklers for extra yardage, especially in the red zone and in third-and-short situations.
Concerns regarding McCulley’s game start with his lack of explosiveness at the snap. Yes, he has good long build-up speed, but he is not an immediate or sudden threat to run by DBs at the line of scrimmage. This limits his separation vertically and forces him to win mostly off back-shoulder fades and contested catches. Going into his third year at the position, he enters 2024 as a raw prospect who has plenty of room to develop. Due to his height and being long-legged, McCulley does not sink as fluid at the top of his routes to generate the desired separation out of his break. I’ll be keeping my eyes on how he handles tough DB matchups late in the 2024 schedule.
McCulley projects as a developmental X-receiver who combines great height, quickness, and high-point ability. Like a power forward in basketball, McCulley has the skill set and body type to box out defenders at the catch point—this is where he is most effective.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: Wisconsin (2023), Penn State (2023), Michigan (2023), Illinois (2023)
