Indiana University secures highest-rated recruit in program history
The Indianapolis native chose Indiana over Texas, Alabama, Ohio State and LSU, marking the most significant in-state recruiting victory since Jaylon Smith’s 2013 departure.
Indiana University has secured the commitment of five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales, establishing the highest-rated recruit in the program’s history. The 2027 prospect, ranked No. 18 overall by ESPN, announced his decision on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Friday afternoon, selecting Indiana over finalists including Texas, Alabama, Ohio State and LSU.
Sales, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound two-way star from Indianapolis, is ESPN’s No. 4 wide receiver prospect in the 2027 cycle. His pledge represents a seismic in-state recruiting win for head coach Curt Cignetti, who led the Hoosiers to the school’s first football national title in January. Sales becomes the third SC Next 300 commit for Indiana’s 2027 class, joining outside linebacker Jalaythan Mayfield and offensive tackle Mason McDermott.
The commitment marks the first time Indiana has secured a player ranked higher than Dasan McCullough, who was No. 43 in the 2022 class. Sales is also the highest-ranked player from the state of Indiana since Jaylon Smith signed with Notre Dame as the No. 7 overall prospect in 2013. Indiana currently holds 17 pledges in the 2027 cycle.
Texas emerged as the most serious challenger to Indiana in the final weeks of the recruitment, with Sales taking official visits to both institutions this spring. He began his visits with Indiana in April and concluded with a trip to Texas last month. Sales originally hails from Alabama but attended Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, where he recorded 37 catches for 794 yards and nine touchdowns on offence, alongside 56 tackles on defence as a junior.
ESPN national recruiting director Tom Luginbill noted that Sales possesses the rare combination of size and speed that has previously succeeded at Indiana. The program has found significant success with larger outside targets, such as former Hoosier Elijah Sarratt, now with the Baltimore Ravens, and current Hoosier Charlie Becker. Sales now headlines the incoming wide receiver class alongside Branden Sharpe and Jordan Carrasquillo.
The commitment leaves No. 2 running back David Gabriel Georges as the only uncommitted five-star prospect in the 23-player 2027 SC Next 300. Georges, ranked No. 14 overall, is expected to announce his decision on July 22 from a field including Ohio State, Ole Miss and Tennessee.
