With Spring practices being over and the transfer portal quieting down, it seems like we know what the Michigan football roster is going to look like in 2025. We got a sneak peak of the roster during the Spring game, which is obviously not a good representation of how the team will perform, considering the starters are divided and don’t play much.
In my eyes, two things stood out in the Spring game: first, the offensive line needs to improve. But this might not be as big of a concern as it’s being made out to be. Freshman Andrew Babalola is a freak and is going to be a much better player by the fall. Transfer lineman Brady Norton, who has been fielding concerns about his size, will be bigger and stronger by the fall. Time will help the offensive line.
The second question in my mind was: how will the receivers fare when it’s starters versus starters? More importantly, does Michigan football have a guy who can consistently get open and make a contested catch when things break down? One receiver has shown that potential, and that’s Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley.
Can Donaven McCulley be a No. 1 for Michigan football?
McCulley, who will be wearing the coveted #1 jersey in 2025, showed flashes during Michigan’s Spring game. At 6-foot-5, McCulley is going to be Michigan’s big outside target and will likely see a lot of action from quarterback Bryce Underwood.
It’s tough to predict how McCulley will fare in 2025. He played only three games last season before entering the transfer portal, but put up 644 yards and 6 touchdowns on 48 receptions in 2023 for the Hoosiers. Those stats would have led the Wolverines in 2024 (by a very large margin when excluding tight end Colston Loveland).
One thing is for sure: the success of Michigan’s offense in 2025 will depend a lot on McCulley. He certainly has the potential to be an alpha at the wide receiver position and should see plenty of opportunity. Michigan football wants to be a much better passing team in 2025, and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey seems confident in the passing game.
McCulley is the favorite to be Michigan’s leading receiver, and it’ll be fascinating to see how he performs. The potential is certainly there for McCulley to be great, so let’s hope for the best.