If Size Doesn’t Matter, D’Angelo Ponds Could Be A Steal
April 17th, 2026
In the 2026 Rose Bowl, Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds blasts the ball loose from Alabama QB Ty Simpson.
Regular readers know Joe cringes when folks hype what a guy did at the combine to mean he’s a superior football player.
OK, cool, the guy bounced around cones and ran around in shorts indoors. That’s nice. But what did he do on a football field?
Measurements, Joe has a strong hunch, will keep Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds out of the first round next week in the NFL draft. And maybe, just maybe, push one of college football’s best corners to Day 3. But there’s one major element that cannot be measured at the combine: heart.
Ponds plays football with a full heart, and then some.
One draft analyst doesn’t believe in measurements. He believes in ball. And that would be Emory Hunt of CBS, the Czar of the Playbook. Ponds stands 5-8, 181 pounds, tiny by NFL standards.
Hunt doesn’t care because Ponds can ball. Hunt has Ponds as his No. 1 cornerback in the draft, listed in his Football GamePlan Draft Guide 2026.
* Excellent press-bail and bail technique. Able to explode into and out of the break and make a beeline to the football. His click-and-close ability is A+.
* Competes at a high level despite his stature. Strong run defender and is an above average blitzer off the corner. Despite giving up some pounds in the weight department, he’s still a very dependable tackler.
* A+ ball skills and ball awareness; won’t miss an opportunity to turn the ball over.
After speaking with several NFL scouts, veteran NFL scribe Bob McGinn of GoLongTD.com has Ponds as his No. 6 corner.
6. D’ANGELO PONDS, Indiana (5-8 ½, 181, 4.37, 2): First Hoosiers defensive back to make first team All-Big Ten in two seasons since safety Mike Dumas in 1989-’90. “He could walk in the door and be a nickel,” one scout said. Played outside on the right for the national champions. “I don’t know how he plays on the outside,” a second scout said shortly before IU pro day. “He’s a really good football player but I don’t know if has the traits to be a good corner in the NFL. He got the most he could out of what he has. He’ll have to run fast at that size and I don’t know if he will.” On the April 1 pro day he ran a blazing 40. His vertical jump (43 ½) at the combine led the position. “He’s a baller,” a second scout said. “I don’t like small corners typically but as competitive as he is, he’s a nuisance. I like him a lot but the size is always going to be an issue.” Started 10 games at James Madison in 2023 and then 26 for IU in 2024-’25. “He’s the exception to the rule,” said a third scout. “You really don’t want to draft him in the second but he’s gonna get drafted and will play. He has the football mentality. He’s fearless. He can play the nickel for sure, but he’s going to have to play the nickel like Philly does. In other words, he can be near the box but he can’t be in the box. He can play man coverage. He can’t be in the box and blitzing off the edge. Every time you see a small corner he’s on his second or third team already. Guy’s a tough dude. He hits, man. I love him, but how much balls do you have drafting him? Even in the third round you’d be scared.” Finished with 169 tackles, seven picks, 33 passes defensed and one forced fumble. Defensive MVP of both the Rose Bowl and the Peach Bowl. “He makes plays in all situations,” a fourth scout said. “He’s one of those guys that you want to not like but you always end up liking him. The size doesn’t necessarily bother me ever as long as you have the length. He was on Jeremiah Smith’s high-school team so he’s used to competing against big guys. So that’s not gonna bother him at all.” Arms were 29 3/8, shortest of the top 15 corners. Played with Ohio State’s Smith (6-3, 215) at Chaminade Madonna, leading the team to state titles in 2021 and ’22. Added a fifth scout: “Little tiny guy, but every time I saw him he was making a play. He made a lot of plays. Fourth round. At worst, he’s a role starter.” From West Park, Fla.
Ponds had a solid game against Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. He switched between covering the best receiver in college football, his former high school teammate Jeremiah Smith, and a likely first-round pick next week, Carnell Tate.
Ponds was targeted six times in that game by Buckeyes quarterback Justin Sayin and Ponds forced four incompletions and allowed just one catch.
In the Rose Bowl against Alabama, Ponds destroyed Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson on a blitz, forcing a fumble in an Indiana rout.
Against Oregon in the playoffs, Ponds was named the Peach Bowl Defensive MVP after a 25-yard pick-six on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
In the national championship game against Miami, Ponds was targeted six times, allowing one catch for one yard while forcing four incompletions.
So it seems Ponds rises to the occasion.
Joe has nothing against Ponds. But man, at 5-8, 181, this guy could get broken in half in the NFL before he bulks up. However, neither Jacob Parrish nor Antoine Winfield, Jr. measured 5-10 before they were drafted.
If the Bucs want to take a flyer on Ponds on the second night, Joe wouldn’t chug battery acid. The guy may not live to see the end of his rookie contract, though.
The scouts McGinn talked to seem convinced Ponds can play nickel. Draft him, put him at nickel, then flip Jacob Parrish to outside corner. Joe’s good with that.
#Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds is a DAWG.
Super competitive player with a great physical presence, strength at the catch point, and a super reliable tackler. Will be a Day 1 starter in the nickel. pic.twitter.com/9HG18edY84
— Andy (@AndyyNFL) February 20, 2026
April 17th, 2026 at 9:08 am
He could pay nickel…I believe I’d rather see Parrish on the outside
April 17th, 2026 at 9:10 am
Damn, that kid can play! Totally agree with Joe. He may get broken in half at some point, but till then he’ll be a difference maker!
April 17th, 2026 at 9:10 am
Keionte Scott please. Can play nickle and slot. Plays the run very well. 4.3 40. He can blitz too. Hes got some dawg in him. Top 50 player.
April 17th, 2026 at 9:11 am
Meh,
VJ Payne for Moneybacker
April 17th, 2026 at 9:12 am
D’Angelo Ponds is the most skilled CB in this draft
He use to cover Jeremiah Smith when they were at Chaminade -Madonna
He blanket the top wideouts he faced, throughout the Big 10 and playoffs
There’s so many positive things about him
So few negative things about him
April 17th, 2026 at 9:16 am
He’s the same size as Darrell Green
And he plays big like Darrell Green
And Darrell Green played in the NFL for 20 years
Every year at a high level, Hall of Fame level
April 17th, 2026 at 9:26 am
draft this kid!!!!….sounds like a more mature honey badger!!!
D.Ponds and Devin Moore from UF would improve our secondary drastically and they’ll both be Day2 or Day3 picks
GO BUCS!!!!
April 17th, 2026 at 9:34 am
You know, that’s an interesting point. There is no question that football when Darrell Green play was significantly more physical than today. Yet Green stayed on the field for 20 (!) years.
So maybe it’s not that crazy to select Ponds?
April 17th, 2026 at 9:35 am
That’s why I always say
Look at the programs these kids come from
D’Angelo Ponds was a star at Chaminade -Madonna, a national high school power
He was a starter at James Madison, when Coach was hired at IU
He took Ponds with him, and IU became a power
Then IU won the national championship, with Ponds as their best CB
Those are the intangibles l look for in a player
Their background in football, their success at every level, their skill set
I don’t care nothing about a 3 minute highlight video, or a combine workout
Give me a highly productive player, who have competed against the best
April 17th, 2026 at 9:35 am
Don’t be scared Jason. He’s a baller. Fluid & fast, he can play man or zone and would fit nicely as a nickel. His quicks make him a perfect fit. Don’t be afraid to reach, you can never have enough guys like this. Love your idea Joe, slide Parrish outside and let Mighty Mouse wreak havoc in the slot.
April 17th, 2026 at 9:48 am
Very Ronde Barber-like – would be a helluva pick
April 17th, 2026 at 9:52 am
Ponds gives you positional versatility without the liability. Outside, inside — he plays both with purpose and physicality. And when he gets to the ball carrier, he finishes.
April 17th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Ponds would be an excellent 2nd round pick. If he was 2 inches taller, he may be the first CB drafted .
Put him in nickel spot and move Parrish outside.
April 17th, 2026 at 10:19 am
Pick him, all for it. He has a 43 inch vertical so he can play a lot taller than he is.
April 17th, 2026 at 10:31 am
This guy loves to play football – yes, please! We need more of his type on our defense.
Obviously, his production shows that his size didn’t matter. In fact, due to his size, I’d say he’s compensating more (with coverage skills and reaction quicks) than a prototypical corner.
He’s a dawg. Get those types!
April 17th, 2026 at 10:43 am
Is he a better tackler than what the Bucs trotted out last year…. The answer seems to be YES. So go get him, a player with heart but undersize is way better than a so called right size player with no heart which I saw last year on numerous occasions.
April 17th, 2026 at 10:45 am
lakeland
great points
GO BUCS!!!!
April 17th, 2026 at 10:51 am
Judging by the highlights he played a lot of man, and looked very good doing it.
My question is, how much man do you think he’d be playing on the Bucs? Bowles will have him 7-10 yds off the line. Can he still be effective in this system? Also, there’s no way to accurately guess a player’s durability so its a dice roll with every player.
April 17th, 2026 at 11:07 am
Ronde was one inch taller and 5 ILBs lighter…
My only problem is his limited role potential at NCB.
If he is able to play outside I would consider it because I really like this kid.
April 17th, 2026 at 11:08 am
Take him if he falls to the 4th round. Not a draft year we can afford too many gambles. We need at least 4 guaranteed starters.
April 17th, 2026 at 11:08 am
Sticks like glue in that cut-up. I like him more than reaching because of measurables.
April 17th, 2026 at 11:09 am
I think he’s a better Outside CB than what the Bucs have
Ponds is not a nickel, but he can adjust to playing nickel
April 17th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Morrison, McCollum, Parrish, are the ones you’re gambling on
Ponds is a sure thing
April 17th, 2026 at 11:11 am
TBBF’s head is spinning with all these draft scenarios…..the Bucs and…..the Bucs and…the Bucs and….the Bucs and….
April 17th, 2026 at 11:19 am
Don’t get me wrong — you can see exactly why Bowles is begging for size. Turn on the Atlanta tape and watch Kyle Pitts abuse our undersized DBs and the argument makes itself. Based on that alone I’d prefer Keonte Scott at the position. But don’t sleep on D’Angelo Ponds — the kid is not a slouch-He’s not a consolation prize. Would be a welcomed addition to the roster
April 17th, 2026 at 11:21 am
‘Vernon’ could ball too. Where is he now?
April 17th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Crassus part is if he was 5’11 or 6ft he’d be CB # 1 and a top 10
Pick, measurables don’t mean much imo
April 17th, 2026 at 11:54 am
I like it!!. yes bench McColumn . I hope they do draft a great corner. we need one or two badly. I don’t think we can start the season with McColumn and Morrison as the starting corners, no way.
April 17th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Three reasons to NOT draft a 5’-8” light CB:
Tet McMillian
Drake London
Chris Olave
Even Jamaal Dean was too small to cover these guys and our other guy (Zion)
Was big enough but couldn’t get the job done either.
April 17th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
He’d be a 3rd or 4th round steal. Dude’s like glue. Very Parrish-like.
April 17th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Give me Julian Neal or Tacario Davis, size matters.
April 17th, 2026 at 12:27 pm
I think Brent Grimes was about that size, maybe slightly bigger.
April 17th, 2026 at 12:35 pm
Nope That is what we have now. Pic tells me he is not interested in tackling anyone as well. Standing over a QB show boating does not impress this Bucs fan. Monte would have kicked him off the field for that back in the day.
Go Bucs!
April 17th, 2026 at 12:46 pm
Somebody will draft him