D'Angelo Ponds combine results: Undersized Indiana DB turns heads with historic vertical jump

D'Angelo Ponds combine results: Undersized Indiana DB turns heads with historic vertical jump originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The hope for the NFL Combine is for draft hopefuls to make a name for themselves if they haven't always had the biggest platform in their careers.

It is a time where players can show off their strengths and try to control the narrative for any weaknesses. For Indiana cornerback 5-foot-9 D'Angelo Ponds, his weakness is easy to spot. For the average NFL corner, he is certainly on the shorter side.

Even though he just won a national championship, he still needed a good combine performance to help convince teams to not define him by his frame. Ponds responded by jumping almost out of the building, with one of the best vertical jumps in recent memory. 

Here is more on Ponds' 2026 NFL Combine performance. 

MORE: Tracking all the results from the 2026 NFL Combine

D'Angelo Ponds height, weight

Ponds is on the shorter side for the typical defensive back. He was measured at the Combine at 5-foot-9, 182 pounds. Luckily for him, he showed that his small stature might not be as impactful as some may worry, with an impressive vertical.

D'Angelo Ponds vertical jump

Ponds' vertical jump went viral, partially because of his size, but also partially because of how high he jumped. He was measured at a 43.5-inch vertical. It is the best mark among cornerbacks at this year's Combine, and is currently tied with Ohio State LB Sonny Styles for the best overall vertical in the last three years. 

What a jump by D'Angelo Ponds. 43.5! pic.twitter.com/7YlVAlTTNT

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 27, 2026

MORE: Who ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Combine?

D'Angelo Ponds broad jump

This will be updated if Ponds completes a broad jump.

D'Angelo Ponds 40-yard dash

This will be updated if Ponds runs the 40.