Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers have had a productive weekend on the recruiting trail. Cignetti landed a pair of commitments this weekend, bringing IU's 2027 recruiting class to six players.
Indiana secured commitments from 3-star defensive back Rico Jackson and 3-star offensive tackle Mason McDermott. Together, the pair has already helped move Indiana up in the 2027 recruiting rankings. The Hoosiers' 2027 class sat at No. 52 in the country, but has now moved up to No. 44 in 247Sports' team rankings for 2027. It's not the biggest jump in the world, but it shows that Cignetti and company have things trending in the right direction.
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As he continues looking for elite talent to bring to Bloomington, Cignetti is hoping to keep his current recruiting momentum going into the new week. In fact, Hoosier fans won't have to wait long to find out if Cignetti has found another win on the recruiting trail.
Indiana target Branden Sharpe to announce commitment decision on Monday
One player that Cignetti and company remain in pursuit of is 3-star WR Branden Sharpe. Hailing from Brownsburg High School, the in-state wide receiver is down to four schools — Indiana, Purdue, Vanderbilt and Cincinnati. He will announce his commitment on Monday night at 6 p.m. ET live on the Rivals YouTube Channel.
I will be announcing my commitment on May 18, 2026. Everybody is welcome to attend. Thank you Jesus‼️ pic.twitter.com/iJ5ufvJkdw
— Branden Sharpe 3⭐️ (@BrandenSharpe23) May 16, 2026
Sharpe is ranked as the No. 79 wide receiver in the country and No. 13 overall player in the state of Indiana according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. This past season, the 5'11" 160-pound wideout played a big role in helping Brownsburg claim a second-straight state title. On the season, he racked up 1,143 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns.
The timing of his commitment decision is interesting, as he is set to take an official visit to Indiana later this month on the weekend of May 29. He is also set to visit Vanderbilt on June 4, Cincinnati on June 12, and Purdue on June 19.
Indiana's recent wide receiver talent is appealing for top recruits
This past season, Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt made up one of the best receiving combinations in all of college football to help lead Indiana to a historic National Championship. Both Cooper and Sarratt are now NFL bound, as Cooper was selected by the New York Jets in the First Round with the 30th overall pick and Sarratt went in the Fourth Round with the 115th overall selection to the Baltimore Ravens.
Looking ahead, Hoosier receivers Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker both have tremendous potential in 2026. Could they become the lethal 1-2 punch that Cooper and Sarratt were last season? Only time will tell, but the hype is real. Marsh and Becker are even being projected as First Round selections in the 2027 NFL Draft.
All of that elite receiving talent and development gives Cignetti and the Hoosiers a lot to point to when recruiting top receiving prospects like Sharpe. Hoosier fans are hoping the in-state product sees the potential and chooses to head to Bloomington for his college football career.
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