The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FEBRUARY 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 49 ❱ FOOTBALL RECRUITING fensive coordinator Chip Lindsey — the two were together at UCF. Ultimately, Michigan went with com- fort and familiarity. Keene already knows how to operate within Lindsey's offense. The Wolverines have plenty of talent and simply need a steady ship commander. Keene fits the description. "I think any time you have familiarity with someone, it's a positive and a ben- efit," Garretson said. "Having the oppor- tunity to be with Coach Lindsey is great. The relationships with quarterbacks are different than anyone else on the team, in my opinion. Mike is a very mature guy, and having that familiarity should be a big plus for both of them." Keene has one year of eligibility re- maining. Along with leading Michigan to victories this coming season, Keene will also be tasked with mentoring five- star signee Bryce Underwood, who is the clear future of the quarterback position in Ann Arbor. There is no doubt in Garretson's mind that Keene is the right man for that job as well. "He's a mentor," Garretson said. "He's been mentored, too. In our time, Jacob Conover was a three-year starter and three-time state champion. Mikey was the sophomore when Jacob was the se- nior. He learned from that. He's been around Josh Heupel, Jeff Tedford, Kirby Moore — just some heavy hitters when it comes to running an offense in college football. That's part of his maturity, too. He's a team player. The ultimate goal is to win. He's there to be a team leader." Overall, Garretson believes Michigan is a perfect fit for Keene. "Watching Michigan last year, I was just thinking to myself, 'If those guys had Mikey, it would make things different,'" Garretson said. "I know they struggled a little bit with the pass game. He's going to be a guy that does what he's asked to do. He can also navigate and make things happen when things break down. "The run game is a quarterback's best friend. He understands the dynamics of that. He's excellent at throwing on the run, but trust me, he can drop back under the saddle and in shotgun. He has quick releases with screens and hot routes. He's a well-schooled guy. Being able to have the firepower of a place like Michigan is exciting." ❑ Keene Has His Target Mikey Keene is taking over a Michigan offense in need of more playmakers at the wide receiver position. The Wolverines addressed that issue by landing Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley, who may very well be Keene's go-to target this fall. "I just felt like Coach [Sherrone] Moore, Coach [Ron] Bellamy and everything Michigan stood for made it the right place for me," McCulley said in an exclusive interview with The Wolverine. "The great opportunity is in front of me. As long as I take advantage of it, everything that I want out of it is going to come out of it." Michigan has made it a point to add more size to its wide receiver room. The Wolverines went two straight recruiting cycles without getting a commitment from a wide receiver taller than 6-foot-2. That changed this winter when the Wolverines signed Jacob Washington (6-3) and Jamar Browder (6-5) and brought in McCulley. At 6-foot-5, 195 pounds, McCulley is an experienced big-bodied pass catcher who can make a big impact on the outside. "They were just telling me that they needed a big X receiver — somebody with experience who could come in and help in a significant way and be a huge part of the offense," McCulley said. "Kind of like a [former U-M wideout] Nico Collins role. I'm not saying it will be the exact same role as Nico Collins, but it's probably similar to that." McCulley added that he's excited about the recent addition of new Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who is expected to bring a more balanced attack to Ann Arbor. "Bringing over Chip Lindsey is a great start with the offense," McCulley said. "As far as last year with the pass game, it wasn't as present as it should have been. I feel like Chip Lindsey is going to help elevate it and be more present this upcoming year. "That's one thing with Coach Moore — he's ready to win. If there is a problem, I feel like he's going to fix it and keep moving." Michigan is also set to have a new starting quarterback in Keene, who will lead the offense as Un- derwood waits in the wings. "The future is in good hands for sure," McCulley said. "I think Bryce is generational. I think we got a really good transfer in the Fresno State quarterback [Keene] coming in. I think that's a good start." McCulley logged 48 receptions for 644 yards and 6 touchdowns as a junior in 2023 and earned honor- able mention All-Big Ten honors. McCulley, who has one year of eligibility remaining, was limited with an injury before leaving Indiana during the 2024 season. Now, McCulley is ready for a fresh start and can't wait to officially be part of the Michigan program. "I'm looking to win and be a part of something special," he said. "I feel like we need to be right back at the top where Michigan is usually at. That's what I want to be a part of." — EJ Holland Wide receiver Donaven McCulley, a 6-foot-5 transfer from Indiana, caught 48 passes for 644 yards and 6 touchdowns as a junior in 2023 and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. PHOTO COURTESY INDIANA ATHLETICS