The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 11 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan receiver Donaven McCulley came to Ann Arbor from In- diana with high hopes, and he appears to be meeting the hype. He's wearing the No. 1 jersey, has been a tough cover in practice and has also emerged as a leader. McCulley discusses his mindset, his first months in Ann Arbor and more in this Q&A. The Wolverine: Your teammates and coaches say you made an impact from the first day you arrived. What was your goal when you transferred to Michigan and how has it evolved? Donaven McCulley: "Coming in, I just wanted to be a guy that made plays and handled my business. I showed the team that I could do what they needed me to do to win. Now, I'm becoming more of a vocal leader. I'm leading more by example. That's my progression from the spring." The Wolverine: Coach [Sherrone] Moore gave you the coveted No. 1 jersey. What does that mean to you? McCulley: "I've done my research on the No. 1 jersey, and it's just awesome sitting there watching guys like Anthony Carter and David Terrell. David Terrell is my favorite one. I watched him the most be- cause we have similar playing styles and body types. "I've always worn the No. 1. I feel like that's just normal to me. But I know it's special here at Michigan, and I'm going to keep holding that to a standard. It's something that I wanted, something that I told Coach Moore coming into the program, and that's what I'm doing." The Wolverine: What was that conversation with Coach Moore like before you got the jersey? McCulley: "When I was getting recruited, we had a talk, and he was just like, 'What do you want to come here?' and No. 1 came up. He said, 'You're going to have to earn it in the spring.' I wouldn't want it any other way. I started out with 13. I earned it, and I'm still earning it." The Wolverine: What are your individual and team goals for the season? McCulley: "Individual goals are at least 1,000 yards and 10 touch- downs. Team goals are to win every game." The Wolverine: What have you seen from the freshmen receivers, Andrew Marsh, Jamar Browder and Jacob Washington, in the early going this fall? McCulley: "They're going to be something special. Marsh, he moves. I've never seen a freshman move as fluid and smooth as him. And then Jamar, as long as he stays aggressive, he'll be perfectly fine. He uses his size well, too. "Jacob is pretty fast — I think he used to run track. He's smooth out of his breaks. He's still got some learning to do, just like all freshmen do, but they all look pretty good." — Chris Balas ❱ Sitting Down With Michigan Grad Transfer Receiver Donaven McCulley McCulley, who wore No. 13 during the spring, earned the coveted No. 1 jersey at Michigan this fall. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Preseason accolades don't mean much come game time —just ask Michigan's 2024 football team that began the season ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press Top 25 but fin- ished unranked. Or ask one of the 12 other teams that began the year in the top 25 but fell out of it by season's end. Since 2014, an average of 11 teams per year come in ranked and end it unranked. The Maize and Blue are No. 14 entering the 2025 campaign, their second under head coach Sherrone Moore. Texas is ranked No. 1, followed by No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Clemson, No. 5 Georgia, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Or- egon, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 LSU and No. 10 Miami to round out the top 10. Michigan also stands behind No. 11 Ari- zona State, No. 12 Illinois and No. 13 South Carolina. The Wolverines are the fifth-highest rated Big Ten program, behind the Nittany Lions, Buckeyes, Ducks and Fighting Illini. Indiana is the sixth Big Ten team in the top 25, stand- ing No. 20. Michigan will not play Penn State, Oregon, Illinois or Indiana in the regular season, but all of them are potential opponents in the Big Ten championship game or College Football Playoff. The Maize and Blue will take on one ranked opponent in nonconference play — No. 18 Oklahoma. The two teams will square off Sept. 6 in Norman for the first ever meeting between the programs on a college campus. Here's a look at how Michigan has started and ended seasons in the AP poll since 2015: Year Preseason Rank Final Rank 2025 14 TBD 2024 9 N/R 2023 2 1 2022 8 3 2021 N/R 3 2020 16 N/R 2019 7 18 2018 14 14 2017 11 N/R 2016 7 10 2015 N/R 12 — Clayton Sayfie U-M Ranked No. 14 In Preseason Associated Press Top 25