Indiana Wins Battle with Texas, Alabama for 5-Star Wide Receiver Monshun Sales

It’s an historic day for the Indiana Hoosiers football program as they landed the commitment of five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales. The Hoosiers won a major recruiting battle against Texas, Alabama, LSU and Ohio State for the top wide receiver recruit in the country.

What is Indiana Getting with Monshun Sales?

Indiana will be getting a monster at wide receiver who should be able to earn a starting spot as a true freshman. The 6’5″, 195-pound wideout can do it all. He has the size and speed to be a total game-changer on offense. As a junior at Lawrence North (Ind.) Sales found another gear with 37 catches for 794 yards and nine touchdowns.

Sales is more than just a tall receiver with an outrageously large catch radius and a first off the bus frame. He does the little things that Indiana’s coaching staff preaches. He’s a good blocker on the outside, something IU’s receivers have excelled at under Cignetti. His toughness is shown as he plays defense as well as a safety.

He can stretch the field with his speed and physically beat defenders for contested catches. He’s one of those generation athletes who can do just about anything. As a sophomore Sales finished second in the state in the 200m dash and was part of the 4×100 relay team that took home the top spot. He also finished first in the MIC in the long jump.

According to 247Sports Sales’ track numbers include: 6.85 in the indoor 60m, 10.81 (0.7) in the 100m, 21.09 (1.5) in the 200m, 5-10 in the high jump and 22-10.75 in the long jump.

Andrew Ivans of 247Sports.com gave this scouting report on Sales:

Hulking wide receiver with game-breaking potential given his size and speed. Looks the part with a muscled-up frame that appears to stretch just over 6-foot-4. Isn’t the most technically advanced route runner at this stage, but has shown the ability to sink his hips and make dynamic cuts in passing tournaments. Spent much of sophomore season challenging defenses vertically from an outside posting and should be able to do the same thing on Saturdays. Likely to face an adjustment period as he levels up in competition and must learn how to consistently create separation at the intermediate parts of the field, but is the type of prospect that doesn’t come around too often in the Hoosier State and has what it takes to eventually thrive in a balanced attack with his catch radius and top gear.

The comparison I get from Sales is to former Michigan State wide receiver Paxico Burress, who wnet on to a successful NFL career with the Steelers, Giants and Jets. Indiana is getting a plug-and-play receiver who will fuel an already frenzied fan base.

What does it Means For Indiana to Win this Recruitment?

While high school recruiting has taken a back seat to the transfer portal, landing a prospect like Monshun Sales is a major deal for the Indiana Hoosier football program.

Since Cignetti took over the Indiana program, he has gone 27-2 with two College Football Playoff appearances and a national title. Yet, the Hoosiers have been discounted as a flash in the pan. Sales’ commitment gives something tangible for people to point at on the recruiting trail.

Not only is Sales a top 10 player nationally, he’s also usually the type of in-state prospect that does not give the Hoosiers a second look. Indiana has seen these kind of players go to Ohio State, Florida and other high-profile schools.

It shows that Indiana is not only willing to spend in the portal, but they will go toe-to-toe with any of the so-called big boys for a highly ranked high school player they want.

For more discussion on Monshun Sales’ commitment, head over to the Hoosier Huddle Forums.