Indiana lands highest-ranked commit in program history, continuing Hoosiers’ recruiting surge
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Curt Cignetti and his staff at Indiana made more history on Friday.
Indianapolis Lawrence North Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Monshun Sales has announced his commitment to the Hoosiers, choosing the in-state program over Texas, Alabama, Ohio State and LSU. He’s the No. 8 overall prospect and No. 2 receiver in the 2027 cycle.
To no surprise, Sales becomes the highest-ranked prospect to commit to Indiana in the modern recruiting era. He passes EDGE Dasan McCullough, a former top-100 prospect who signed with the local Hoosiers in the 2022 cycle.
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As Sales emerged as one of the nation’s best in the cycle, Indiana made sure it got its foot in the door early. Of course the Hoosiers were going to have the local factors in their favor, but in the early stages it still felt like a long shot that they’d be able to keep him from leaving the state.
Then Cignetti’s team made history and won a national championship. They picked up a tidal wave of momentum on all fronts, the recruiting trail included.
Alabama looked to be the frontrunner early. Sales originally hails from the Yellowhammer State and he grew up a big fan of the Crimson Tide. Ohio State got involved and at one point it felt like a recruitment that the Buckeyes wouldn’t lose.
LSU is always a factor in recruitments like Sales’. Texas swooped in late with an offer and ultimately became the Hoosiers’ biggest competition down the stretch. Indiana has been the favorite for a while now, however.
Sales has been to Bloomington myriad times. He’s seen Indiana soar to the top of the sport and has felt the love from the staff. After mulling his options, he’s rocking with the local Big Ten program.
“It’s really just how they approach everything,” Sales previously said of IU when speaking with Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. “They approach everything the same way. They don’t approach nothing easy. They try to go get everything, and it starts with the head coach and the receiver coaches and all the coaches that’s in the organization.”
Indiana pushing for Top-25 class
With Sales now in the mix, Indiana has the No. 28 class in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The addition of the Five-Star Plus+ prospect could provide another surge on the trail for Cignetti and Co.
The Hoosiers have expanded their reach and have been in the hunt for other top blue-chippers, but they’ve still had the most success while hunting for some of the best in the Midwest. Sales becomes the second in-state blue-chipper in the IU class, alongside Noblesville four-star offensive tackle Mason McDermott.
Farmington (Mich.) four-star EDGE Myles Smith was the highest-ranked commit in the class prior to Sales’ arrival. He’s now the No. 229 recruit and No. 23 EDGE in the nation.
Two other blue-chippers are in the mix: Lincolnton (N.C.) four-star linebacker Jalaythan Mayfield and Columbus (Ohio) Academy four-star defensive lineman Reinaldo Perez. Both are top-15 players in their respective state.
Other top prospects in the class include: Washington (D.C.) St. John’s three-star running back Da’Jon Talley Rhodes, Reading (Mass.) Tabor Academy three-star safety Brady Scott, Brownsburg (Ind.) three-star WR Branden Sharpe, Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley three-star cornerback Ramir Harris-Dupree and Louisville CAL three-star safety Garyon Hobbs.
An up-to-date look at Indiana’s 2027 class can be seen here. It ranks 10th in the Big Ten, ahead of Minnesota, Maryland, Rutgers, Northwestern, Iowa, Purdue, Illinois and Michigan State.
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