There are just two uncommitted five-star prospects remaining in the 2027 high school football graduating class.
One of those, running back David Gabriel Georges, is expected to announce his decision between Ohio State and Tennessee in two weeks.
The other is Lawrence North wide receiver Monshun Sales … and as Sales seemed to indicate on Sunday, the clock is ticking on his commitment.
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Sales has long targeted a July commitment date for his decision, though he has not yet publicly set a date for his announcement. Here is a closer look at the five-star recruit as a decision day nears:
Monshun Sales statistics
Sales caught 37 passes for 794 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior after pulling down 34 receptions for 568 yards and seven TDs as a sophomore. He was also a contributor at safety as a junior, making 56 tackles.
Monshun Sales top schools
Alabama, Indiana, LSU, Ohio State and Texas.
Sales took official visits to all five of those programs since the end of April, when he made his official visit to IU. He visited Alabama the final weekend of May, then took official visits to Ohio State, Texas and LSU in June. A previously scheduled official visit to Miami (Florida) was scrapped.
A closer look at the finalists
Indiana: There was significant momentum for Sales to IU coming out of the official visit more than two months ago, and the Hoosiers appear to remain in a strong position for the in-state star. Sales is close with IU receiver Davion Chandler, a former Lawrence North standout, and also watched former LN receiver Omar Cooper Jr. help the Hoosiers to the national title and get drafted in the first round by the New York Jets.
Sales has cited his belief in IU coach Curt Cignetti as a draw with IU.
“I’ve already been there a lot, so it was just confirmation that I could see myself going there,” Sales told IndyStar after his official visit. “After my other visits, I just wanted to see everything again and just bottle it all in and let my family see it, too, because for my god mom and god dad, it was their first time being there. I wanted to see how the family loved it.”
IU has 16 high school recruits in the class, including four-star Brownsburg receiver Branden Sharpe. The Hoosiers also have in-state commitments from Noblesville offensive lineman Mason McDermott and Michigan City offensive lineman Jeremiah Jones in a class that is currently ranked No. 45 by 247Sports and No. 29 by Rivals.
The only other IU receiver commit in the class is three-star prospect Jordan Carrasquillo of Alpharetta, Georgia.
Alabama: Sales is originally from Alabama and even has the nickname “Bama.” So, yes, the Crimson Tide have been a program to watch since the beginning his recruiting rise. He still has a lot of family in the state and by all indications had a great visit to Alabama. However, Sales told IndyStar it will not only come down to the family’s background.
“I still have a good relationship with the coaches there and can’t wait to get back down there,” he said before his visit. “I would say early on the process (Alabama) had an advantage, but now it’s business. You have to kind of leave that behind.”
Alabama has 13 commits in the 2027 class to rank No. 50 in the country by 247sports and No. 35 by Rivals. Alabama does have commitments from five-star quarterback prospect Elijah Haven and four-star QB prospect Trent Seaborn. Osani Gayles, a four-star recruit from IMG Academy (originally from California), is the only receiver commit in the class.
LSU: This is the program that came in most recently for Sales, getting an official visit last month.
New coach Lane Kiffin has the No. 11-ranked recruiting class in the country by both 247Sports and Rivals. The Tigers have commitments from two five-star prospects in edge rusher K.J. Green and tight end Ahmad Hudson and several four-stars, including Louisiana quarterback Peyton Houston.
The Tigers have three wide receiver commits: four-star Ah’Mari Stevens, four-star Cade Cooper and three-star Gary Burney Jr. in the current 15-player class.
Ohio State: Ohio State is always a program to watch when it comes to high-profile Central Indiana prospects.
The Buckeyes are putting together an impressive class in 2027, with 18 players to rank No. 7 in the country by On3 and Rivals. Ohio State has commitments from five-star receiver Jamier Brown and three-star Florida receiver Jordan Donahoo.
Ohio State has tradition of producing outstanding receivers, including Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Carnell Tate and Chris Olave in recent years. Sales said he has quickly built a strong relationship with new receivers coach Cortez Hankton, who came over from LSU.
“That’s probably the best relationship I’ve got with a coach,” Sales said of Hankton prior to his visit. “When he was at LSU, we built a relationship and he keeps it consistent. It shows with how much he’s put into it. You go to Ohio State and they get you ready.”
Texas: The Longhorns got involved with Sales’ recruitment in the spring. He took an unofficial visit in April, then took an official visit in June.
“The coaches, the people and the environment,” he said of what he liked about Texas prior to his official visit. “Everybody is there for Texas. They love it. It wasn’t just football. I took a tour around the campus and saw how it would be every day. I could see myself doing that. They showed me how they could use me in the offense, watching guys like Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo. Seeing how they used those guys showed me how I could be used there.”
Texas has since put together a recruiting class that is the highest of any program on Sales’ list, ranking No. 4 by 247Sports and No. 5 by Rivals. The Longhorns have receiver commitments from five-star Easton Royal, four-star Briceson Thrower and three-star Kyron Brown.
What the experts are saying
Steve Wiltfong and Greg Smith of Rivals both logged predictions in favor of Indiana, though both of those predictions came in mid-May before four of his official visits.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Decision time looms for Lawrence North 5-star recruit Monshun Sales: Finalists, stats, predictions
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
