After watching three weeks of practice and talking with the players and coaches this month, it’s time to take a final position-by-position look at IU football ahead of the 2026 season.
Next up are the defensive backs.
THE COACHES
Both of the defensive back coaches were new hires for head coach Curt Cignetti in 2024.
Safeties: Ola Adams is entering his third season coaching the safeties under Cignetti and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.
Cornerbacks: Rod Ojong is also entering his third season under Cignetti and Haines.
THE MAIN MEN
Senior Amare Ferrell (6-foot-2, 205) is entering is third season as a starting safety. He’s expected to be joined on the back end by Wisconsin transfer Preston Zachman (6-foot-2, 212), who is entering his seventh and final season of college football. The duo is about as veteran as you can get.
Sophomore Byron Baldwin (6-foot-2, 192) has a strong chance to be the starting rover when the Hoosiers go with five defensive backs.
At cornerback, national championship game hero Jamari Sharpe (6-foot-1, 190) is entering his final season. Cignetti has referred to him as the team’s No. 1 cornerback this season on multiple occasions.
THE COMPETITION
There haven’t been many genuine battles for starting roles this month, but the competition between Penn State transfer cornerback A.J. Harris (6-foot-1, 190) and returning backup Ryland Gandy (6-foot, 190) has been good.
Harris entered fall camp as the presumed leader, but his minor knee injury and strides by Gandy have us genuinely intrigued. Harris missing practice time was a setback, and Gandy earned some trust when he filled in for D’Angelo Ponds at Iowa a year ago. We may have to wait for the season opener here to be sure.
Cincinnati transfer safety Quan Sanks (5-foot-10, 193) was injured during the spring and that set him back, but he has looked solid in August. Sanks is likely the next man up if anyone goes down in the safety/rover group.
A YOUNG PICK TO CLICK
It has to be Baldwin. A highly coveted recruit, Baldwin started his true freshman season injured in 2025, but he eventually worked his way back and was trusted by the staff to be on the field in occasional key moments. He was also solid on special teams. Now Baldwin has a year under his belt and he’s healthy. In addition to playing rover he can fill in at safety if needed. He should get plenty of snaps and is likely to make several big plays.
We also like young players such as corners Jaylen Bell and Carson Williams, and safeties Garrett Reese, Seaonta Stewart, Jamar Owens, and D’Montae Tims — but it isn’t clear how many snaps they’ll get this year.
ONE CONCERN
You can’t overstate the importance of Ponds. The guy just made so many big plays, not only on defense like his pick-six on the first play of the national semifinal vs. Oregon, but also on special teams, where he set the tone against Illinois. Indiana could be solid at cornerback but still not be D’Angelo Ponds good. Haines put him on the boundary and basically didn’t worry about that part of the field. Will IU have that kind of luxury this year?
BOLD PREDICTION
We’ll say Indiana finishes in the national top-five in interceptions per game this year. IU was No. 13 last season at 1.19 a contest, but the havoc caused up front should bump them up to at or near the top this time around. Ferrell and Zachman are going to see a lot of balls thrown in harm’s way.
THE OUTLOOK
Replacing Ponds is no small task, but Indiana should be in good shape. We like the safeties a tick better than the corners this year, but the competition between Harris and Gandy should have them both primed and ready. Collectively IU’s defensive backs should be a solid complement to an elite defense.
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