Less than 65 days remain beforeIndiana football kicks off the start of the 2025-2026 season against Old Dominion on August 31st at home.
In PFF's ranking of the top-10 secondaries heading into the 2025 season, Indiana landed at No. 7 overall. "The Hoosiers have one of the best defensive backfield in college football, led by All-American D'Angelo Ponds and safety Amare Ferrell.
D’Angelo Ponds leads Indiana’s secondary and the No. 3 cornerback in college football according to PFF's Max Chadwick. His 91.8 PFF grade over the last two years is the highest among all returning FBS cornerbacks. The Hoosiers also returned another starter in safety Amare Farrell, whose four interceptions in 2024 tied for sixth among Power Four safeties.
Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds Last Season:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 2, 2025
🔴 436 Coverage Snaps
🔴 1 TD Allowed
🔴 3 INTs | 7 PBUs
🔴 49.5 Passer Rating Allowed
🔴 85.0 Coverage Grade@IndianaFootball pic.twitter.com/SOiMLWO3Zv
Here’s what PFF’s Max Chadwick wrote about the Hoosiers’ group of corners and their secondary overall heading into 2025:
Indiana will likely have a couple transfers starting for them in slot cornerback Devan Boykin (NC State) and safety Louis Moore (Ole Miss). Boykin missed all of 2024 with a torn ACL but was fourth among FBS safeties the year before with a 90.5 run-defense grade. Moore actually started for Indiana in 2023 and had a solid 73.3 PFF grade that year.
With Ponds back to lead the cornerback room and Ferrell reclaiming his starting job at strong safety, it gives the Hoosiers a promising core to build upon despite several newcomers in the secondary.
Aside from the projected starters, the Hoosiers' depth in the secondary will be a major key to their season. Indiana bolsters All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Shaun Asbury II, redshirt junior Jamari Sharpe and transfers Ryland Gandy and Amariyun Knighten. At safety, Indiana is looking at some backup combination of redshirt senior Bryson Bonds, freshman Byron Baldwin, redshirt freshman Jah Jah Boyd and freshman Seaonta Stewart.
Texas (No.1), Alabama (No. 2), Notre Dame(No. 3), Clemson (No. 4),Ohio State (No. 5), Oregon (No. 6), Indiana (No. 7), Duke (No. 8), Georgia (No. 9) and Penn State (No. 10) were also included in PFF's 2025 secondary rankings.