D’Angelo Ponds was a star at cornerback during Indiana’s championship season after following Curt Cignetti from James Madison. James Lang / Imagn Images
April 24, 2026Updated 8:39 pm EDT
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The New York Jets made Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds the 50th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
A classic boundary corner in Bryant Haines’ Indiana scheme, Ponds thrived in man coverage, leading his team in passes defended in three collegiate seasons. He followed Curt Cignetti from James Madison after Ponds earned freshman All-America honors in 2023. He was named first-team All-Big Ten in both of his seasons with the Hoosiers, scoring four touchdowns on two interception returns and two punt-block returns in his career.
A second-team All-American by the AP in his final year, Ponds was named defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Alabama. He repeated the feat in the Peach Bowl semifinal against Oregon after taking the first play from scrimmage for a pick-six. In the College Football Playoff championship game against Miami, Ponds set a championship game record with three passes defended as the Hoosiers completed a 16-0 run on their way to a 27-21 win.
‘The Beast’ breakdown
Ponds ranked No. 21 on Dane Brugler’s top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler said about Ponds in his annual NFL Draft guide:
“Ever since pee-wee, Ponds has been the smallest player on the field, which places a permanent chip on his shoulder and sharpened his skills in other areas. With quick-twitch footwork and body control, he has the cover talent to play tight in man-to-man or bait and drive from depth. He does a great job staying in phase and creating on-ball production at the catch point. He plays with a confident swagger, though bigger athletes will have an unquestioned advantage on him.”
Coaching intel
Here’s what a head coach who faced Indiana in the first half of last season said in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft:
“Oh man, he’s such a good player. We tried him because he’s a smaller guy. We threw a ‘go-ball’ on him and he played it perfectly. He was physical. He’s really athletic. Got in phase and just kept making plays. He’s very competitive, very tough. He tackles. He blitzes. He’s very instinctual. Plays zone, plays man. He’s an awesome player.”
Nick Baumgardner grades the pick
Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets just drafted another Aaron Glenn. Ponds is a small corner who, like his new head coach, plays like a man twice his own size — with a boulder on his shoulder the size of New Jersey. This is a tremendous fit and very good value. Grade: A
Come back later for more analysis of Ponds.
Apr 25, 2026
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