BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football reached a historic milestone on the recruiting trail Friday when five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales announced his commitment to the Hoosiers during a live appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
The Lawrence North High School standout from Indianapolis becomes the first five-star recruit to commit to Indiana in the modern recruiting rankings era and is considered the highest-rated football recruit in program history.
Sales scouting report is littered with phrases like “One of the biggest freak shows in the country with his hulking frame and elite athletic markers,” and “Projects as a potential game-wrecker for a College Football Playoff contender.”
Sales said his decision came down to the relationships he built with Indiana’s coaching staff, particularly head coach Curt Cignetti, offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, and offensive assistant Eddie Burk.
“Indiana was my second offer, and since then they’ve just been pouring into me,” Sales said during the announcement. “I go up there a lot and talk with coach Shanny, coach Eddie, and coach Cig. They’re my guys. With IU, I had the best relationship with the coaches. It just feels like home since day one, and I’m just ready to work.”
Sales also praised Cignetti’s direct coaching style.
“Coach Cig is a straight-up guy. He’s just going to keep it real with you. He’s not going to tell you what you want to hear,” Sales said. “It just kind of clicked instantly. I don’t want someone who is going to tell me what I want to hear. I want to work for everything.”
Host Pat McAfee, an Indianapolis native and former NFL punter, reacted enthusiastically to the announcement on his nationally televised show.
“What Curt Cignetti has been able to do down there has ignited a fan base,” McAfee said, adding that he got chills when Sales chose Indiana.
The 6-foot-5 receiver selected the Hoosiers over a list of national powers that included Texas, Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, and Miami.
Industry recruiting rankings place Sales as the No. 8 overall prospect in the Class of 2027 and the No. 2 wide receiver nationally. Some recruiting services rank him as the top receiver in the class.
Sales starred on both sides of the ball during his junior season at Lawrence North, recording 37 receptions for 794 yards and nine touchdowns while also totaling 56 tackles as a safety.
His commitment continues the recruiting momentum under Cignetti, who has elevated expectations for the Hoosiers since taking over the program. With Sales joining the fold, Indiana’s 17-player Class of 2027 is ranked No. 28 nationally and 10th among Big Ten programs by both Rivals and 247Sports.
Landing a prospect of Sales’ caliber marks a significant recruiting achievement for Indiana as the Hoosiers continue to compete with traditional college football powers for elite talent.
Sales excelled as a two-sport athlete at Lawrence North:
Track:
-State qualifier in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and long jump as a 10th grader. Placed 2nd in the 200 and was also part of a 4×100 relay squad that captured gold.
-Captured a MIC Championship in the long jump as a sophomore.
-Top markers include: 6.85 in the indoor 60, 10.81 (0.7) in the 100, 21.09 (1.5) in the 200, 5-10 in the HJ and 22-10.75 in the LJ.
Football:
2025: Finished junior season with 37 catches for 794 yards (21.5 YPC) and 9 TD. Added 56 tackles on defense. Helped Lawrence North go 7-3 and reach the Indiana 6A playoffs.
2024: Two-way player as a sophomore. Caught 34 passes for 568 yards (16.7 YPC) and 7 TD in 11 games. Added 4 tackles and 2 FR on defense.
