Tag: Donaven McCulley

Oklahoma Sooners miss out on pair of transfer wide receiver targets

Oklahoma Sooners miss out on a pair of wide receiver targets on Friday.

It’s no secret the Oklahoma Sooners are in the market for wide receivers in the winter [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] period. After losing Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony, Brenen Thompson, and Jaquaize Pettaway, the receiver depth chart is left without a lot of experience and production at the collegiate level.

Oklahoma targeted former Indiana receiver [autotag]Donaven McCulley[/autotag] and former Miami (Ohio) wideout [autotag]Reginald Virgil[/autotag]. Both players came off the board on Friday as McCulley stayed in the Big Ten and committed to Michigan. Virgil bypassed the Sooners for the Big 12, committing to Texas Tech.

It was felt that the Sooners had a great shot at Virgil, who is a childhood friend of OU wide receiver Jayden Gibson. Instead, it’s the Red Raiders that add Virgil.

So, the Oklahoma Sooners will continue their pursuit of big wide receivers with a track record of production at the collegiate level. They’ve been in pursuit of former Cal receiver Nyziah Hunter.

Hunter was a former four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class out of Salinas, California. As a redshirt freshman in 2024, Hunter recorded 40 receptions for 578 yards and five touchdowns for the Golden Bears.

Deion Burks’ future remains uncertain. While Jayden Gibson’s timeline puts him on track to return for fall camp, after the season OU just had at wide receiver, they need more security at the position.

Wide receivers coach Emmett Jones and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle have their work cut out for them rebuilding the wide receiver depth chart moving forward.

The Sooners will have a busy weekend as they host offensive linemen and wide receiver targets to bolster an offense that has to improve in 2025.

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Michigan football gets its first transfer portal commitment in 2024 late period

BOOM!! #GoBlue

This one took awhile.

Michigan football desperately needs wide receivers and it needs to get some experience in the room. The top receiver, Tyler Morris, entered the transfer portal earlier this month, and with Bryce Underwood incoming, he needs more than freshmen to throw to.

One target has long shown interest in the maize and blue, but it inexplicably took him some time to pull the trigger. Donaven McCulley was once a four-star quarterback recruit who started games at Indiana at that position before switching to wide receiver. He was productive last season but this year, his playing time fell off under new head coach Curt Cignetti and he entered the transfer portal early.

McCulley visited Ann Arbor the day after the win over Ohio State, but he also visited West Virginia and Oklahoma. However, on Friday evening, he committed to the Wolverines.


Here is how McCulley ranked as a recruit coming out of high school as a quarterback:

* Ovr Pos St
247Sports Composite 4 223 24 2
On3 Industry Ranking 4 181 19 2
247Sports 4 – 24 3
On3 4 118 14 2
ESPN 4 – 17 3
Rivals 4 100 4 2

And here are his transfer portal rankings:

* Ovr Pos
247Sports 3 141 24
On3 3 175 37

In 2023, McCulley led the Hoosiers in receiving with 48 catches for 644 yards and six touchdowns. He only had two catches for 21 yards in 2024.

Oklahoma veteran wide receiver entering the transfer portal

The Oklahoma Sooners are losing another wide receiver to the transfer portal according to On3 Sports.

The Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver room has been in turmoil throughout 2024. Injuries and inexperience limited production from a unit originally considered one of the deepest in the country in 2024. Just a couple of days into the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] period, [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] and J.J. Hester have entered the portal. Now, [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] has joined them, entering the portal on Tuesday afternoon, according to On3 Sports.

Farooq, a four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, was among the few holdovers from the Lincoln Riley era. He started at wide receiver in 2022 and 2023, but was limited to two games in 2024 after breaking his foot in the season opener against Temple on a 47-yard reception.

He didn’t play until the loss to Missouri, when he played 27 snaps and had two receptions for 11 yards.

In 2023, Farooq had 45 receptions for 694 yards and two touchdowns. His best performance as a Sooner came in the 2023 Red River Showdown, when he had five receptions for a career-high 130 yards, including big plays just before halftime and on the Sooners’ game-winning drive. Both receptions set up opportunities for the Sooners to score against the Longhorns.

Farooq will have one more year of eligibility after redshirting in 2024. He’s a talented player who can do a lot for an offense with his route running and athleticism.

To retool the wide receiver room with the key departures of Farooq and Anderson, the Sooners are pursuing wide receivers [autotag]Donaven McCulley[/autotag] and [autotag]Reginald Virgil[/autotag].

Though the Sooners have talented wide receivers remaining on the depth chart, Oklahoma will need a player or two with collegiate production to lead the way.

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Oklahoma Sooners lose starting wide receiver to transfer portal

Oklahoma has lost another wide receiver to the transfer portal.

The Oklahoma Sooners will be replacing their top two pass catchers this offseason.

[autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] entered the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] earlier this week, and now, [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag] has as well. Hester is the third wide receiver to depart via the portal this cycle, following [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag].

“First and foremost, thank you to my brothers and OU,” Hester shared on social media. “I’m grateful for everything that has happened throughout my career. Memories that’ll last forever. With that being said, I’ll be entering my name in the transfer portal.”

Hester was second on the Sooners in receiving yards with 315 yards on 14 receptions. He had one touchdown, a 90-yard score against Maine. His big game came against the Auburn Tigers: three receptions for 86 yards. His 60-yard reception helped set up a Jovantae Barnes two-yard score that put the Sooners back in the game at 21-16. Kip Lewis’ interception return for a touchdown followed and the Sooners earned their first SEC win.

After transferring from Missouri in 2022, Hester had a hard time getting on the field during his first two seasons in Norman. But with injuries at wide receiver, 2024 provided an opportunity to see extended playing time. Though the numbers may not be eye-popping, he provided an explosive element in the Sooners’ struggling passing game, averaging 22 yards per reception. Hester was second among Sooners wide receivers in snaps this season.

Oklahoma has been linked to wide receivers [autotag]Donaven McCulley[/autotag] and [autotag]Reginald Virgil[/autotag] in the first few days of the transfer portal as the Sooners look to rebuild their wide receiver corps.

More: 2024 Oklahoma Sooners transfer portal tracker

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Oklahoma Sooners pursuing electric transfer portal wide receiver

Oklahoma Sooners offer electric transfer wide receiver out of the MAC.

The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to add to their wide receiver ranks via the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. It was reported that the Sooners were set to host Indiana transfer wide receiver Donaven McCulley on Monday, but he isn’t the only wideout Emmett Jones and the Sooners are pursuing.

On Monday, Miami (Ohio) transfer wide receiver Reginald Virgil revealed the Sooners issued an offer on the opening day of the transfer portal.

Virgil had a breakout season in 2024 with 41 receptions for 816 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 19.9 yards per reception this season, which was tied for ninth in the nation and led the MAC.

He had a stretch of seven straight games with a touchdown in 2024, including a two-touchdown game against Eastern Michigan (3 catches, 113 yards).

Virgil also had 100-yard days against Ball State and Northern Illinois. That’s the Northern Illinois team that beat Notre Dame.

He’ll go into his senior season in 2025, but the Sooners need experience and a track record of production to solidify the position in 2025.

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Oklahoma Sooners expected to host transfer wide receiver target per On3 report

According to a report from On3, the Oklahoma Sooners are expected to host a big-time wide receiver target Monday.

The 2024 winter [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] will open on Monday, but a number of players across the country have already made their intentions known. The Sooners, with holes to fill on the roster, are expected to be active in the portal this offseason.

Though there’s an expectation that a number of key wide receivers will return for 2025, Oklahoma has already made overtures to an intriguing target out of the Big Ten. According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong and Pete Nakos, former Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley will visit the Sooners on Monday. 

McCulley started his career with the Hoosiers as a quarterback before transitioning to wide receiver for his sophomore season. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound wide receiver has a number of suitors in the transfer portal market and spent time recently at Ohio State and Michigan.

In a breakout 2023 season at receiver, McCulley led the Hoosiers with 48 receptions for 644 yards and six touchdowns. In 2024, McCulley had two receptions for 21 yards in four games before leaving the Indiana football program.

With the struggles the Oklahoma Sooners had at wide receiver due to injuries and inexperience, the Sooners need a player with McCulley’s type of production to solidify the position next year.

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Michigan football set to host transfer receiver upon returning from Ohio State game

Would be a very good get. #GoBlue

Michigan football is going to need some help at wide receiver in 2025 now that Bryce Underwood is coming in, and the Wolverines are looking to surround him with talent.

Though there are three good receiver commits in the 2025 class (the Wolverines are still working on four-stars Derek Meadows and Quincy Porter) Michigan certainly will also be looking to established talent to bring in.

Though it was reported earlier this season that former Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley would be taking a visit to Ann Arbor, that never ended up taking place. But McCulley has gotten his visit back on the books as he’ll be coming to Ann Arbor shortly after the conclusion of the Ohio State game.

 

Getting a player of McCulley’s caliber would be a start, but it wouldn’t be the final solution. Though Michigan has tended to want to run the ball, surrounding Underwood with some bona fide, established playmakers is a path that the maize and blue are likely to go down.

The transfer portal is set to open on Dec. 9, but nothing would stop McCulley from announcing his college decision before then.

Big Michigan football transfer portal target sets visit to Ann Arbor

Excellent news! #GoBlue

Michigan football is looking to shore up some areas on the team for next year, and it’s not just doing it through high school recruiting.

One player that the Wolverines had their eye on last cycle was Indiana quarterback-turned-wide receiver Donaven McCulley, who had initially entered the transfer portal after leading the Hoosiers in receiving. However, when Curt Cignetti signed on, McCulley withdrew his name and returned to Bloomington.

However, this year hasn’t gone as anticipated for McCulley, as injuries and being passed up on the depth chart has led him to only having two catches thus far this season. Thus, he announced his intention to reenter the transfer portal and Michigan is one of his chief schools of interest.

And now we know his intention to visit Ann Arbor to check things out.

According to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, McCulley intends to visit Ann Arbor in just over a week, intending to take in the Wolverines’ rivalry matchup against MSU on Oct. 26.

Michigan would do well to shore up a wide receiver transfer (or two) to go along with the two four-stars in the 2025 recruiting class. The maize and blue have speedster Andrew Marsh and possession receiver Jacob Washington committed, and also will hope that current freshmen Channing Goodwin and I’Marion Stewart will be ready to produce by the time next season rolls around.

UCLA has reached out to Indiana transfer WR

This would be a huge get for the Bruins.

The UCLA Bruins have not found success this year with DeShaun Foster as the head coach. Moreover, their introduction to the Big Ten Conference has been brutal. 

The first Rose Bowl Big Ten Conference clash was a blowout loss to the Indiana Hoosiers, who have now started the year 6-0 and are in the top 25.

However, the Bruins are already thinking ahead and getting in front of things in the transfer portal. Recently, Indiana WR Donaven McCulley decided to enter the portal, and it turns out UCLA is one of a number of schools to express interest thus far, per a report from Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz.

“Indiana WR Donaven McCulley has heard from more than a dozen schools since entering the portal, a source tells @mzenitz and I for @247Sports/@CBSSports.’ 

The schools McCulley has heard from include UCLA, and here are the rest:

  • Maryland
  • Baylor
  • Michigan State
  • Cincinnati
  • UCF
  • Houston
  • Cal
  • Colorado
  • SMU
  • Alabama
  • Michigan
  • Virginia Tech
  • Missouri
  • LSU
  • Notre Dame
  • Miami (FL)
  • USC

McCulley caught 48 passes for 644 yards and six touchdowns a year ago for Indiana, but he has become a lesser option with a lot of new faces in town that came along with Curt Cignetti.

Nonetheless, it is encouraging to see UCLA doing due diligence in the portal right now.

MSU reportedly contacts Indiana transfer WR Donaven McCulley

Michigan State football is reportedly one of many teams showing interest in a Big Ten transfer wide receiver

Michigan State football is reportedly one of many teams showing interest in a Big Ten transfer wide receiver.

Chris Hummer of 247Sports is reporting that Indiana transfer wide receiver Donaven McCulley has been in contact with numerous big-time programs, including Michigan State. According to Hummer, McCulley has heard from the following schools since recently entering the portal: Michigan State, Maryland, Baylor, Cincinnati, UCLA, UCF, Houston, Cal, Colorado, SMU, Virginia Tech, Alabama and Michigan.

McCulley entered the transfer portal after appearing in only four games for the Hoosiers. In his brief time with Indiana this year, he only recorded two receptions for 21 yards and one touchdown. However, McCulley last season was a threat for Indiana with 48 receptions for 644 yards and six touchdowns.

Click on the post below to read more on McCulley and the Spartans’ interest:

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