Jeremiah Smith’s message to Monshun Sales adds late twist to Alabama recruiting battle

Sooner or later, Monshun Sales is going to pick a team. While it could come down to either Alabama or Indiana, Ohio State is not giving up the fight just yet. Sales took his official visit to Columbus last weekend, where he caught the attention of the Buckeyes' all-world talent Jeremiah Smith. Sales is from Alabama and may live in Indiana, but Ohio State is where star wide receivers are manufactured.

During his official visit to Ohio State, Sales saw what he would look like in the Scarlet and Grey. This led to this photo op, one where Smith and Chris Henry Jr. were among those who commented. Henry and Smith may come from famous football families, but the latter is the greatest college wide receiver since Ja'Marr Chase. What Smith said could carry some clout and might influence Sales' big decision.

"Come be great lil bra" might not seem like much to an outsider, but Smith threw his hat into the ring.

Sales may be flattered by Smith's recruiting pitch on Instagram, but that does not change the fact they will never be Ohio State teammates. As Sales decides where he wants to play his college football, Smith is simply biding his time before he is the first wide receiver taken in the 2027 NFL Draft. Alabama's Ryan Coleman-Williams could have some say in that, but he has bigger fish to fry.

Right now, Alabama fans should be amused by Ohio State's pitch to Sales, but not be threatened by it.

Ohio State’s late Monshun Sales push is a desperate swing at Alabama

If we ranked the five remaining suitors for Sales' five-star commitment, here is how it feels right now.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide
2. Indiana Hoosiers
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
4. Texas Longhorns
5. Miami Hurricanes

Alabama and Indiana should be viewed as one and two, probably in that order. The Crimson Tide and the Hoosiers have put in more work to land Sales than anyone else. Ohio State has emerged from the pack of others to be third. One would expect the Buckeyes to be a finalist for him. After that, Texas should be fourth because the Longhorns did get an official visit from him. Miami is still alive at No. 5.

If we were to tie back into the Ohio State desperation of it all, look no further than Smith and Henry's comments on this Instagram post. Smith may want Sales to "come be great", but he is not going to be in Columbus to be his "lil bra". He is more likely to be catching passes from his cousin Geno Smith at MetLife than lining up to Sales in The Horseshoe. Henry could be his teammate, but "fingers crossed".

With Alabama being the team Sales grew up rooting for, as well as having familial ties to the state, it would make all the sense in the world for him to come play for the Crimson Tide. Given that he hails from Indianapolis, it would also make sense for him to entertain playing for Curt Cignetti at Indiana for the defending national champions. Ohio State has history, but it no longer has Brian Hartline around.

ALSO READ: Alabama staff compares Monshun Sales favorably to former Kalen DeBoer superstar

That right there may be the biggest foil in Ohio State's plan to land Sales. The Buckeyes only became Wide Receiver U after Hartline came back to coach at his alma mater. The former star wide receivers coach now leads the South Florida Bulls in The American. Head coach Ryan Day and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith know ball, but one is a former quarterback, while the other was a lineman.

With Alabama, what you see is what you get from Kalen DeBoer. He runs an offense that puts its wide receivers into advantageous situations. Cignetti does that too in Bloomington, but Indiana is still so new to this football juggernaut thing. They can handle the transfer portal like nobody's business, but can they recruit with the big dogs out of high school? It is why Alabama should beat out the Hoosiers.

Smith may really want for him to commit to Ohio State, but it is unlikely that Sales will take the bait.

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