Pro Football Focus Has IU with Two of the Highest Graded Returning Corners in the Big Ten

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Two of the newest additions to the IU secondary have found their way onto Pro Football Focus’s Highest Graded Returning Cornerbacks in the Big Ten heading into the 2024 season. PFF lists Cedarius Doss and D’Angelo Ponds as the second and third best returning corners in the conference. IU and Michigan are the only schools with two players each on the list.

The Hoosiers brought both Doss and Ponds in from the transfer portal after stand out seasons at the FCS and Group of Five level.

Doss was an All-American at the FCS level with Austin Peay where he played 21 games including 15 starts at corner. Last season, Doss made 35 tackles, three interecptions and had 10 passes defensed. He returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown. In a small sample size against FBS competition (Alabama, Tennessee and Western Kentucky) over the last two seasons Doss made 12 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception.

Ponds comes to IU from James Madison and will be familiar with the defensive scheme IU will run under coordinator Bryant Haines. Ponds earned freshman All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America.

In 2023 Ponds played in all 13 games for the James Madison Dukes. He made 51 tackles, two coming for a loss and had 13 pass breakups including two interceptions. Ponds also scored on a punt block on special teams in the win over Virginia.

The secondary was a big question heading into the offseason, but the Hoosiers filled those holes with talented players from the lower levels.