The sky is seemingly the limit for Indiana cornerback D'Angelo Ponds. Following a breakthrough 2024 season for Ponds, who earned All-America and first-team All-Big Ten honors, NFL Draft analysts are keeping close tabs on the 5-foot-9, 170-pounder heading into his junior season.
On Monday, ESPN's Matt Miller released his first 2026 mock draft and predicted all 30 first-round selections next spring. Ponds was tabbed as the No. 28 overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens and the fourth cornerback off the board in the first round.
"The Ravens added two short-term cornerback options in veterans Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie, but they need a long-term solution," wrote Miller. "Ponds projects as a slot corner because of his 5-foot-9, 170-pound frame, but he's a feisty cover man with ball skills (five career interceptions) and the quickness to match up with inside receivers. Having him join a pair of young safeties in 24-year-old All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and 2025 first-rounder Malaki Starks would give Baltimore a fierce group of youthful playmakers."
Ponds continues to rack up preseason accolades and attention ahead of the 2025 season. Pro Football Focus recently named Ponds a Preseason All-American as the top "flex" player entering this fall.
"Ponds showed his true freshman season at James Madison was no fluke, placing as one of the 15 most valuable corners in the nation once again at Indiana," wrote PFF's Max Chadwick. "His 91.8 PFF grade over the last two years is the highest among all returning FBS cornerbacks as well. There's zero fear in Ponds' game, both in coverage and in run defense."
Ponds was also recently ranked by ESPN as the fourth-best cornerback entering the 2025 season.
"Ponds had a breakout sophomore season in 2024 at Indiana after transferring from James Madison," wrote ESPN's Chris Low. "A second-team ESPN All-American, he doesn't have great size (5-9, 170 pounds), but he is a physical cornerback who also locks down opposing receivers in coverage. He was third on Indiana's team with 36 solo tackles and led the team with nine pass breakups. He finished with three interceptions, 4.5 tackles for loss and blocked a kick.
"If there's a play to be made, Ponds is usually there to make it. Over the past two seasons, his 91.8 grade by Pro Football Focus leads all returning FBS cornerbacks. He will again team with linebacker Aiden Fisher to be cornerstones on an Indiana defense that was second nationally last season in yards allowed per play (4.28) and sixth in points allowed (15.6 per game)."
More will be expected of Ponds as he enters his junior season at IU, but he is taking it all in stride and embracing the expectations.
"For me, it's just finding ways to get better. Little things," Ponds said on March 27. "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. So, it's just taking it one day at a time, competing and finding ways to get better."