ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- One of Michigan football's biggest weaknesses last year, if not its biggest weakness, was its passing game. Now, with new quarterbacks, a new offensive coordinator, and even some new receivers, the Wolverines have revamped the attack in a big way.
While all eyes are on quarterback Bryce Underwood, perhaps one of the biggest offseason additions was former Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley. Coming in as the most experienced and prolific receiver in the room, McCulley also brings size at 6-foot-5. He's a big target that the quarterbacks can find downfield and should create the ability to stretch the field for a Michigan offense that last year had very little in way of explosive power.
But, McCulley brings more than experience and expertise, it sounds like.
"As you guys know, we wanted to get bigger, right? We wanted to get bigger in the receiver room," wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy said. "And we had some attrition, and we tried to make up for it via the portal or through high school. And we chose the portal, and McCulley's been a great addition.
"He's a young man who's played a lot of football, and head down, just working hard, a leader in the room. And, he's a guy that we're leaning on to help with the young guys' development as far as off the field, how to be, conduct yourselves, different things like that. But Donaven's been a great addition."
Speaking of the addition of longtime Michigan receivers coach Erik 'Soup' Campbell to the room as an assistant behind the scenes, Bellamy shared that the duo have been noting the accomplishments of wideouts during Campbell's original tenure in the Lloyd Carr era. Asked who would be the most likely of the current receivers who could end up on the wall in the WR room, Bellamy says that McCulley has the inside track and that he's shown a lot for the Wolverines thus far in spring ball.
"Well, it would be the oldest guy. The oldest guy for us is Donaven McCulley," Bellamy said. "He's the oldest guy in the room, has the most experience. He's played over 1,000 snaps in his college career. So, quite naturally, you would think he would be the next guy on the room and on the wall. And that's what he's ascending to.
"He's on track. I'll tell you what, he's on track to do that. He's got to keep attacking it and challenging himself every day, which, like I say, he's been a great addition thus far."
Fans will get an opportunity to see McCulley in action on April 19 in the annual spring game set to take place at The Big House.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Why Ron Bellamy is excited about Michigan football WR Donaven McCulley
