Indiana football’s top cornerback is heading to the NFL.
D’Angelo Ponds, on the heels of the Hoosiers’ win in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, said he plans on declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday during an appearance at Raising Cane’s in Bloomington, per Zach Osterman of the Indianapolis Star.
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Ponds was rated as a 3-star recruit in the class of 2023, ranking in as the 170th highest-rated cornerback nationally in the 247Sports Composite. He made an instant impact as a freshman at James Madison, being named Second Team All-Sun Belt. When head coach Curt Cignetti took the Indiana job in late 2023, Ponds followed through the transfer portal.
He’s been Indiana’s top cornerback ever since, making up for his relative lack of size with a relentless work ethic and smart play as an integral part of defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ unit. He’ll leave Bloomington with the legacy of a champion with iconic interception returns against Washington at home in 2024 and on the first play against Oregon in the Peach Bowl during Indiana’s playoff run.