MIAMI – “You can’t find Ponds without Jamari,” cornerbacks coach Rod Ojong said on Saturday morning.
Indiana cornerbacks D’Angelo Ponds and Jamari Sharpe have known each other since middle school. They played Little League together. They grew up together in the Miami area.
Now, they play for a national championship together at 7:30 p.m Eastern on Monday against No. 10 Miami in Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami.
“Neighborhood games are big in South Florida,” Ponds said Saturday. “I feel like all kids growing up, that's all we know is football.”
The two separated once high school came about. Ponds went to Chaminade Madonna College Preparatory School in Hollywood, Florida. Sharpe went to Northwestern High School in Miami.
The two never played each other, but Ponds played Northwestern a year after Sharpe’s departure and helped best Northwestern 42-14 with three tackles in the game.
Sharpe was at Indiana for two years before Curt Cignetti came over from James Madison. With Sharpe having established a spot on the roster and staying under Cignetti, Ponds’ decision was simple.
Reunite with an old friend at Indiana.
“They’ve known each other for a while, so it helped us in the recruiting process getting Ponds,” Ojong said.
The relationship has evolved from two kids just loving football.
“Its kind of like a big brother little brother thing,” Ojong said. “Ponds has the experience so he tells Jamari how he sees things and Jamari can take it and run with it.”
Between the two are 64 collegiate starts, Ponds with 37 and Sharpe with 27. To be able to start that many games, a competitive spirit is a must.
These two compete all the time, both during and after practice, whether it’s whoever gets the first pass breakup, or the first interception or who allows the first catch.
Neither of them want to lose, and they especially don’t want to give up a catch. Their competitiveness has spread to the entire defensive back room.
“It helps to have guys like that at the top, because everybody wants to contribute, and everybody can contribute,” defensive backs coach Ola Adams said Saturday. “They’re all capable and it’s really shown and paid off this year, just how we’ve grown as a group.”
Growth has been a huge point of emphasis for both corners, from middle school to now.
“I’ve seen him play a lot,” Ponds said back in November. “He’s grown tremendously, especially since the season’s started.”
Sharpe’s improvements are nothing short of notable. Adams, Ojong and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines all praised Sharpe for the improved physicality throughout this year.
Haines specifically noted how proud he is of Sharpe’s improvements.
Sharpe started three games last season. This year he’s started in all 15, with 44 tackles on the year, five pass breakups and four forced fumbles by a corner. The physicality hits hard in the box score and on the field for Indiana’s 22.
“Every week it seems like he plays with a little more confidence,” Adams said. “When you have a guy of Ponds’ stature playing opposite of you, you’re almost always trying to play catch-up, if you can even get close to that guy that’s pretty, pretty good.”
Even though Ponds is the younger corner, he instills confidence in Sharpe. Haines said Ponds is one of those guys who can do that. Ponds has become a leader and Sharpe has been the biggest benefactor of that trait so far.
Ponds’ physicality and competitiveness come from training with Sharpe as well. It’s not just a one-way street. His total tackles increased every season, 38 so far in 2025, and his first forced fumble of his career this season came in the Rose Bowl against Alabama with a rib-shattering hit.
“Me and Jamari make each other better with little things,” Ponds said. “We correct each other... We keep the same standard and are competing every day.”
Ponds takes away half the field for Indiana. Now Sharpe takes away the other half. All teams are able to do is throw underneath. Well, maybe not.
“It’s an amazing feeling to come home and play for a national title in front of my family and everybody, it's an amazing feeling,” Sharpe said Saturday.
Ponds shared the same sentiment about Monday night, when the two will play in front of family, friends and Hoosier Nation.
“To be at home for a game like this, I feel like it's going to be a full circle moment and a great opportunity for us to take advantage of,” Ponds said with a smile.
