‘Phenomenal’ – Ponds Pushes To Be The Best
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
‘Phenomenal’ – Ponds Pushes To Be The Best
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Want to fire up D’Angelo Ponds? Beat Indiana’s All-America junior cornerback to catch a pass. Make a play against him. Do something that prevents the defense from getting a three-and-out, or a turnover, or something that ruins offensive plans.
Of course, doing that against one of the nation’s best cornerbacks is almost as difficult as holding Kansas City superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a scoreless first half.
“I’m very competitive,” the 5-foot-9, 173-pound Ponds says. “I don’t want a receiver to catch any balls. Even in Cover 3, I don’t want him to catch the hitch.
“I don’t like catches. My coaches don’t like catches. I’m the type of guy, if I give up a catch, I’ll come back the next play to see if I can keep that one-play mentality. That’s the approach I have. Go at them every play. That’s the type of guy I am.”
Last season, in his Hoosier debut after a standout James Madison freshman year, Ponds broke up a team-leading nine passes, intercepted three passes, and ranked fourth on the team with 57 tackles. He also blocked a kick and had 4.5 tackles for loss.
Ponds has earned second-team preseason All-America honors from six outlets. Big Ten coaches and media named him first-team all-conference.
Pro Football Focus rates him as the Big Ten’s best cornerback and No. 9 nationally. ESPN lists him as the nation’s fourth-best defensive back.
Ponds’ difference-making ability was highlighted last season against Washington, when he intercepted two passes, including a 67-yard pick-6, that helped earn him Big Ten defensive player-of-the-week honors. He also broke up three passes against Ohio State and had an interception against Notre Dame. Those teams played in the national title game.
Head coach Curt Cignetti calls Ponds a “baller,” and praised his “competitive character.” He says Ponds is a player “who wants to be great.”
This season, heading into the Aug. 30 season opener against Old Dominion, Ponds wants more.
“In order to get to the next level,” he says, “you have to have that mindset. I’m playing the hardest position on the field. You have to be able to bounce back from anything.”
Leadership is part of that. Ponds is fine with leading by example, but vocal leadership remains a work in progress.
“I’m trying to be more vocal,” he says. “I’m adapting to it. It’s been a challenge, but I’m getting better at it.”
That started to kick in during last season’s October 41-24 victory at Northwestern.
“During that game, I stepped up, got the team together and told the defensive back group we had to step it up. That was the turning point for me.”
All-America linebacker Aiden Fisher has seen the progress.
“When he first got to JMU, he wouldn’t say a word. He’d always put his head down and work.
“Now, he’s trying to be more vocal. He’s always been a lead-by-example guy. I mess with him and say that doesn’t even exist anymore. He has to use his voice. Now you see him bring guys along. He’s pushing them to be better. I think that will make him better in the long run. He’s been phenomenal so far.”
Ponds says Fisher and veteran defensive lineman Mikail Kamara set a strong leadership example.
“I learned a lot from those guys, especially from a leadership perspective. Aiden talks to everybody. He’s the leader of the team. I learned a lot from him. It’s the same with Mikail.”
It helps, Ponds adds, that “I feel I have matured. I’m older. I’ve gotten wiser. I know the football game a little more. I know the constants. I have more of a mental aspect of the game.”
As a true freshman at James Madison, Ponds needed a couple of games before earning a starting position he never lost while earning freshman All-America honors. He says he always believed he was ready for the challenge.
“My first day of fall camp my freshman year at JMU, I knew I was at a high level.”
Now, Ponds seeks to share his football knowledge and confidence with fellow defensive backs such as freshmen Byron Baldwin Jr. and Jaylen Bell, junior Ryland Gandy and junior Jamari Sharpe.
“Baldwin brings a lot of energy,” Ponds says. “He’s a young guy. He’s willing to learn. He reminds me of myself. He asks questions about everything. He wants to learn. He has a lot of potential.
“Jaylen been great for us, as well. That’s another guy I see myself in. He’s learned a lot. He asks a lot of questions. He’s a hard worker. The future is bright for him.
“Jamari has evolved tremendously. He’s gotten way better since I met him. He will have a great season. He will be great for us. And Gandy has come a long way.”