Indiana lands its highest-rated recruit ever in 5-star WR Sales - ESPN

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti secured the highest-rated commit in program history Friday with a pledge from five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales, No. 18 in the SC Next 300.

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound recruit from Indianapolis is ESPN's No. 4 wide receiver prospect in the 2027 cycle. He announced his commitment to the defending national champion Hoosiers over Texas, Alabama, Ohio State and LSU on Friday afternoon during an appearance on «The Pat McAfee Show.» Per ESPN, Texas emerged as the most serious challenger to Indiana in the final weeks of Sales' recruitment.

Sales, Indiana's No. 1 overall recruit in 2027, is the state's highest-ranked player since eventual All-American Jaylon Smith signed with Notre Dame as ESPN's No. 7 overall prospect in the 2013 class. His commitment represents a seismic in-state recruiting win and marks the latest milestone in Cignetti's remarkable program turnaround following Indiana's storybook run to the school's first football national title in January.

Sales joins outside linebacker Jalaythan Mayfield (No. 235 overall) and in-state offensive tackle Mason McDermott (No. 254) as the third SC Next 300 commit atop the Hoosiers' latest recruiting class. All told, Indiana holds pledges from 17 prospects in the cycle. If Sales ultimately signs with the program later this year, he'll surpass class of 2022 signee Dasan McCullough (No. 43 in the 2022 SC Next 300) as the highest-ranked addition in school history.

Originally from Alabama, Sales is a two-way star at Indianapolis' Lawrence North High School. He totaled 37 catches for 794 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior last fall, adding 56 tackles on defense.

«The Hoosiers are getting one of those rare prospects that can really run yet also has