There are so many different pieces that come together to make Indiana’s defense as dominant as it's been under defensive coordinator Bryant Haines. Their mantra is to do your 1/11, and that’s evident on film. But there is one player that has a skillset nobody else on the roster can replicate: D’Angelo Ponds.
Even at 5-foot-9, Ponds is one of the best outside cover corners in the country. Haines deploys him as the team’s boundary corner, effectively taking away one side of the field and allowing the zone-heavy scheme to roll coverage to the other side of the field. Ponds is the type of player who shifts the geometry of the field for both teams. Replacing him won’t be easy, but Curt Cignetti just gave it his best shot.
On Monday, Indiana landed a commitment from Penn State transfer AJ Harris. The 6-foot, former four-star Georgia recruit spent the last two seasons in Happy Valley, and entering this year, many viewed him as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Harris didn’t play to those expectations for the disappointing Nittany Lions, so he entered the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining. Now, he’ll join a roster that also added Montana State transfer Carson Williams at cornerback with a clear path to CB1.
Indiana lands a commitment from former Penn State CB AJ Harris
He hasn’t played to Ponds’s level, but Harris is an incredibly physically gifted defensive back with natural coverage ability. He has the potential to blossom into a star and finally reach that first-round status, and he has plenty of production on his resume, which we know is crucial in Cignetti’s evaluation process.
Harris has played 1,311 snaps in his career and over 1,200 at Penn State. Though he has just one interception and three pass-breakups, he was the Nittany Lions' top cornerback in 2024 when they finished 28th in passing defense and made a run to the College Football Playoff semifinal.
There will be major changes coming in Bloomington after Monday night’s national championship game. Ponds is just one of many impact starters that the Hoosiers need to replace, but their transfer portal class is indicative of a program that’s serious about competing for championships. The Hoosiers won’t be a flash in the pan.
Indiana currently has 15 incoming transfers for next season. It’s a group headlined by Michigan State wide receiver NicK Marsh and TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, but one that addresses plenty of potential roster holes beyond that enticing duo. Now, with Harris set to likely fill the Ponds' role, the Hoosiers are comfortably a top Big Ten contender for 2026.