IU football defensive back D’Angelo Ponds named a preseason PFF All-American

The IU football program has one of the top cornerbacks in the country and it was shown on Wednesday when D’Angelo Ponds was named an All-American by Pro Football Focus.

Ponds was a Third-Team selection. He is coming off of a Freshman All-American season in 2023.

Despite not starting for James Madison to begin his freshman season, he quickly emerged as a lockdown defender and true game-changer for the Dukes. They gave up 377 yards against Virginia in week two, then 333 yards against Troy in week three and 402 in week four to Utah State. Ponds played sparingly throughout the first few weeks but made a massive impact when he saw extended snaps against Utah State — a turning point in his freshman season.

James Madison would go on to hold the following nine starting quarterbacks to below 300 yards passing the remainder of the season.

Ponds was in the middle of the action in every single game — having four or more tackles in nine games and finishing third in the league in pass breakups.

Cignetti didn’t mince words this summer when discussing the pickup.

“He’s a big get,” Cignetti said at a fundraising event at Huber’s Winery.

Ponds totaled 52 tackles, 12 pass deflections, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

The IU football corner has been a standout for the Hoosiers in fall camp after committing to the Hoosiers in the spring.

“I don’t know if we’ve beat him yet on a pass route,” Cignetti told reporters. “He’s just swallowed up that side of the field. He’s a good guy to everybody else to watch in terms of how to do it.”

IU football takes the field on Aug. 31 against Florida International for the beginning of Curt Cignetti’s tenure in Bloomington.

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