Just a month ago, the Alabama Crimson Tide, led by Kalen DeBoer, was leading the race to sign the No. 2 wide receiver in the nation, Monshun Sales, for the next season. But as Sales gets set to announce his college decision on Friday, July 17, Alabama’s chance to land the 6’5″, 205-pound playmaker is getting tougher each day. As per Tim Watts of Bama Online, another Big Ten Conference team could be the landing spot for Sales.

“If this is a complete NIL decision, it probably won’t be Alabama,” Tim Watts said on the Rivals’ The Inside Scoop show. “If it’s more of, you know, the heart above the head, then maybe Alabama has a chance. I don’t have a great feel on it. I do think Indiana took the early lead with that early smart official visit in April, but after that, he took several official visits.”

Since Sales was born in Alabama and grew up a Tide fan, it made the Crimson Tide’s chances the highest to have him on their roster. But Indiana surged after hosting Sales on an official visit in April. Texas, Ohio State, and LSU also entered the race, but the consensus now is that Indiana leads the race, with Texas as a wild card.

The list of teams interested in Sales is stacked. While Alabama seems like a decision he would have taken, Sales has kept his options open.

Watts’ mention of the heart above the head has context. Despite having a prior connection with the state of Alabama, Sales has made Indiana his second home while playing for Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis last season.

Sales finished his junior season with 37 catches for 794 yards (21.5 YPC) and nine TDs while adding 56 tackles on defense. He helped Lawrence North go 7-3 and reach the Indiana 6A playoffs last season and is now quite the hometown star in Indiana. So, staying in-state would make him the face of the program, which is an attractive factor.

Now, if Sales decides to go for head over heart and signs for Indiana, considering being with a champion team, Kalen DeBoer’s tactics might face a big hit.

What can Kalen DeBoer do if he does not get Monshun Sales?

Alabama currently has just one receiver commitment on the board for the next season. They have four-star Osani Gale, who joined in June.

Under DeBoer, the Tide’s approach for signing WRs has followed a pattern. They sign one headline name and then develop a lesser-known prospect into his ceiling.  Then they fill in through the transfer portal.

Sales would be that headline name if they get him. But without him, Alabama likely leans even harder on the portal this cycle. Ryan Williams and Derek Meadows both fit the “big name” factor in past classes for them. Meanwhile, additions like Jeremy Bernard, Noah Rogers, and Isaiah Horton came in as portal reinforcements. They also missed on in-state target Cedric Simmons, who chose Auburn instead.

EJ Cromwell is another name that could be an option for the team, but if they are unable to land him, Crimson does have good options on the roster.

This season, it is already shaping up as a portal-and-retention-heavy class for Alabama rather than the top-10 recruiting class DeBoer signed in his first two years.

However, everything can flip for Alabama if Sales decides to go for his roots and join hands with DeBoer for the next season.