Indiana returning All-Americans D’Angelo Ponds and Aiden Fisher are on preseason watch lists for two of college football’s most prestigious awards.
Ponds is on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list announced on Wednesday. A second-team All-America pick by six outlets in 2024, Ponds was a first-team All-Big Ten pick as a true sophomore. Rated the top cornerback in the Big Ten and No. 9 in Power 4 (84.2) per Pro Football Focus he picked off three passes, he broke up passes and ended the season with 55 tackles (35 solo). In one of the season-defining plays of 2024, Ponds opened the scoring versus Washington with a 67-yard pick-six that thwarted a UW scoring opportunity in the first quarter.
The Jim Thorpe Award is presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back. This year’s preseason watch list features 35 of the country’s premier defensive backs, representing nine conferences and one independent program.
Meanwhile, Fisher is on the Butkus Award watch list.
After he was the first-ever first-team All-America pick at linebacker in program history in 2024, Fisher is back. His 118-tackle season ranks No. 16 on the single season charts. The first-team All-Big Ten pick last season anchored a defense that led the nation in rushing defense.
The Butkus Award, one of college football’s most respected honors, recognizes the nation’s top linebacker—a homage to the fierce, no-nonsense legacy of Dick Butkus, whose No. 51 jersey became a symbol of dominance on the field. This watch list features 51 of the best linebackers in the nation, a nod to Butkus’ iconic number, and includes elite defenders from 39 programs across the country.
Ponds and Fisher were both also on the Bronko Nagurski Award preseason watch list announced on Tuesday.
See also:
- IU football’s Sarratt and Mendoza are on 2025 Maxwell Award preseason watch list
- IU football’s Fernando Mendoza nominated to 2025 AFCA Good Works Team
- Fisher, Ponds and Kamara on Bronko Nagurski preseason watch list
For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- You can follow us on Twitter: @daily_hoosier
- Find us on Facebook and Instagram
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
