Why 5-star WR Monshun Sales picked Indiana football

Monshun “Hoosier” Sales.

The Lawrence North five-star wide receiver, formerly known as “Bama” due to his family ties to Alabama, will need a new nickname after committing to Curt Cignetti’s Indiana football program on Friday.

You can call him this: The highest-ranked recruit in IU’s football history.

“My decision to commit to Indiana was not an easy one," Sales said. "The relationships that I made with the coaches and staff at Indiana throughout the process is what made it feel like home. Coach Cignetti has built a winning program and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Winning a commitment from a top-10 national recruit, even one in IU’s backyard, would have seemed impossible prior to Cignetti’s arrival in November of 2023. Two College Football Playoff appearances and a national championship completely changed the perception, including in the eyes of Sales, who also considered Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and Texas among his finalists.

Sales watched IU’s program grow under Cignetti with some first-hand knowledge, not only as a prospective recruit, but as former Lawrence North standout wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. helped the Hoosiers during the national title run. Sales talks almost every day with former Lawrence North receiver Davion Chandler, who will be a sophomore this fall at IU. Sales watched IU knock off perennial powers Alabama, Oregon and Miami (Fla.) on the way to winning a national championship.

“It is showing that they can compete at a high level and beat those top programs, which they were not able to do in the past,” Sales said. “I feel like that’s all they really needed, was to start winning so they can get even better recruits. I don’t want to say they don’t have high recruits now, but they are literally doing it with not (highly ranked recruits). Imagine what they could do with those top recruited guys?”

Hoosier fans can imagine with a little more clarity now. The 6-5, 205-pound Sales made his announcement Friday on the nationally televised Pat McAfee Show, ending any suspense that he might opt for Alabama or Texas at the last minute.

“I think he’s handled everything as well as you possibly can,” Lawrence North coach Pat Mallory said of the recruiting hype around Sales. “I just tried to tell him to talk to the people that love you the most. Everybody has their opinion about you and where you should go. But nobody’s opinion matters but yours first and foremost.”

Indiana is getting an impact prospect in Sales who caught 37 passes for 794 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior and recorded 56 tackles on defense from his safety position. As a sophomore, he caught 34 passes for 568 yards and seven TDs for a team that finished 11-1 and was ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 6A.

Mallory knew Sales had potential going back to his days as a pre-teen in the Lawrence North youth football program. Maybe not five-star potential. But certainly a high ceiling.

“I’m a pretty tough old guy to play for,” Mallory said. “Years ago (when Sales was playing) in our youth league, I told him it was going to take a lot of hard work to get there he wants to go. When he was 11, 12 years old, I talked to him about how it was going to be tough. You might not always like it. But my goal was to get him ready, so he can be ready to play (at the next level) after his four years, not wait and get developed.”

Sales becomes the crown jewel of a now 17-player class that also includes Brownsburg four-star receiver Branden Sharpe, Noblesville three-star offensive tackle Mason McDermott and Michigan City three-star offensive lineman Jeremiah Jones.

Sales made his commitment surrounded by family, friends and teammates, along with respresentatives from ASCEND FOOTBALL, which worked alongside him navigating the recruiting process and talking with coaches and general managers from the programs recruiting him.

“This has been an extensive process, fully considering every school. At the end of the day, Monshun believes that Indiana was the best fit for his football career and future," said Dujuan Daniels, ASCEND FOOTBALL’s General Manager.

Said ASCEND FOOTBALL’s CEO and certified NFLPA agent Randy Fisher: “Monshun’s commitment to Indiana reflects the trust built between the athlete, his family and our agency throughout a process centered on finding the right long-term fit."

Sales did not waste much time in making his announcment on the show. He unzipped his sweatshirt to unveil a blank white t-shirt before pulling on an IU hat and jacket. "For the next three to four years," Sales said, "I'll be taking my talents to Indiana University."

"Indiana was like my second offer and since then they have been pouring into me," Sales said after making his announcement.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why 5-star WR Monshun Sales picked Indiana football