Indiana corner D’Angelo Ponds ranked as one of the top defensive backs in the country
Indiana junior defensive back D’Angelo Ponds was ranked as the fourth-best defensive back in the country by a panel of ESPN’s college football experts.
Ponds was ranked as the second-best defensive back in the Big Ten, only behind Ohio State’s Caleb Downs who was first on the list.
Ponds is coming off of a huge 2024 season where he received second-team All-America honors from The Athletic, CBS Sports, ESPN, Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele, and USA Today.
After following Curt Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana, there were questions about Ponds’ ability to match up against Big Ten receivers due to his lack of size. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound corner resoundingly answered all of the questions en route to his numerous postseason honors.
“He is a physical cornerback who also locks down opposing receivers in coverage,” ESPN’s Chris Low said about Ponds.
In 13 games Ponds led the team with nine pass breakups while recording three interceptions, 4.5 tackles for loss and a blocked kick.
Ponds played a massive role on the Indiana defense which finished sixth in points allowed per game (15.6) and second in yards per play allowed (4.28).
“If there’s a play to be made, Ponds is usually there to make it,” Low said. “Over the past two seasons, his 91.8 grade by Pro Football Focus leads all returning FBS cornerbacks.”
The most impressive thing for Ponds was his ability to show up and compete against the best of the best and it showed as many top wide receivers struggled against the Indiana defense.
Against Indiana, OSU’s star receiver Jeremiah Smith was held to just three catches for 34 yards which was his second-lowest total of the season. Ponds had three pass breakups in the game.
No matter the matchup, Ponds’ play was consistent and a big reason the Indiana defense allowed just 11 passing touchdowns while forcing 15 interceptions.
“For me, it’s just finding ways to get better. Little things, I’ll go back and watch games from last year. Just finding things I need to get better on, working on myself, there’s always things I can improve on as a DB,” Ponds said during spring camp. “So, it’s for me it’s just taking it one day at a time, competing, and finding ways to get better.”
As a junior Ponds’ role will grow more off the field as he, Aiden Fisher, and Mikail Kamara will be tasked with leading the Indiana defense in 2025.
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