Curt Cignetti, Indiana closing gap on SEC power for 2027 No. 1 WR Monshun Sales

Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers have had a big week.

Indiana wrapped up spring practice with the annual spring game last Thursday, which coincided with the 2026 NFL Draft. Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza unsurprisingly went No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, but that was just the beginning as Indiana set a program record by having eight players drafted.

Needless to say, that kind of representation in the NFL Draft certainly bodes well for Cignetti and the Hoosiers on the recruiting trail - especially when pursuing the top WR in the 2027 class.

Indiana remains in pursuit of Lawrence North WR Monshun Sales

One player Cignetti and his staff continue to pursue is WR Monshun Sales. Hailing from Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Sales is ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the state of Indiana and the No. 1 wide receiver in the country for the 2027 recruiting class according to 247Sports. Furthermore, he is ranked as the No. 7 overall recruit in the nation by the 247Sports Composite.

Sales was in Bloomington this past weekend for an official visit, and it appears to have gone well. So well, in fact, that On3/Rivals Vice President and college football recruiting guru Steve Wiltfong believes that Indiana may have grabbed the inside position in Sales' recruitment.

"I think they're positioned well for the long haul," said Wiltfong on the Wiltfong Whiparound on Tuesday. "He feels very comfortable around Indiana. I think this is a recruitment that the Hoosiers are invested in moving forward, and I think that maybe they have grabbed that pole position as his process continues."

Wiltfong also points out that Sales is from the same high school as former Hoosier WR Omar Cooper Jr, who was a first round draft pick last week. Cooper went No. 30 overall to the Jets, which gave Indiana its first pair of teammates to be selected in the first round of the same NFL Draft (Mendoza No. 1 overall to the Raiders). Cignetti and his staff are sure to use that angle to their benefit as well.

Indiana battling Alabama for No. 1 WR Monshun Sales

Indiana getting the first official visit from Sales is massive, and shows the Hoosiers are firmly in the hunt to land his services. Looking ahead, Sales is set to visit Alabama on May 29, Texas on June 5, Ohio State on June 12, and Miami (FL) on June 19.

In December, Wiltfong and Greg Smith of Rivals logged expert predictions for the Alabama Crimson Tide to land Sales. “Alabama is the leader going into the spring and summer visits for Monshun Sales,” said Wiltfong. Smith added that it's "hard to see him passing up the chance to play in Tuscaloosa."

However, now it seems that Indiana is right there with Alabama in the hunt to land the electric wideout.

As it stands, Indiana's 2027 recruiting class features four commits: 4-star CB Monsanna Torbet Jr, 3-star QB Jameson Purcell, 3-star S Garyon Hobbs, and 3-star OT Jeremiah Jones. If Cignetti is able to out-last Kalen DeBoer and keep Sales in the Hoosier State, it would be a huge recruiting win for IU.

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