New York Jets fans should keep a close eye on Indiana Hoosiers' cornerback D'Angelo Ponds during the 2025 College Football Playoffs.
We are two weeks away from finding out where the New York Jets will land in the 2026 NFL Draft, which means fans are beginning to shift their focus towards the important week in April.
For general manager Darren Mougey and the front office, multiple positions need to be filled this offseason, including the quarterback position. However, there is one defensive player that fans should keep an eye on during the 2025 College Football Playoffs.
After Mougey decided to move off of star cornerback Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline, it became clear that the defense would need a complete overhaul this offseason. This leaves the door open to the struggling franchise selecting a key playmaker like Indiana Hoosiers’ cornerback D’Angelo Ponds as he quickly rises on draft boards.
Ponds, who followed head coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana back in 2024, has become a staple of the Hoosiers’ defensive efforts this season.
Through 12 games this year, the junior cornerback has recorded 47 tackles, eight pass deflections, and one interception. While his numbers have taken a slight dip from the previous year, Ponds is still one of the most consistent defensive backs in college football
At 5-foot-9, 173 lbs., the talented cornerback may not have the typical physical stature of an NFL cornerback. But Ponds makes up for his lack of size with his physical, aggressive style of play, which is a perfect fit for head coach Aaron Glenn’s defense.
While he has spent most of his college career as an outside corner, Ponds will likely become a slot cornerback in the NFL due to his lack of size.
When matched up against Ohio State’s incredible wide receiver duo of Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate in the Big Ten Conference Championship game, he was unable to hang with the elite pass catchers.
Luckily for Ponds, his quickness would allow him to fill the slot cornerback role for the Jets in 2026. With cornerbacks Brandon Stephens and Azareye'h Thomas being the projected outside corners next season, Ponds could be the missing piece on defense for New York’s secondary unit.
Looking at where he could land in the upcoming draft, Ponds’ size has limited him to being a day two pick, which means the Jets could target the young playmaker later in the draft.