Indiana Football Sees Jamari Sharpe Poised for a ‘Big Season’ at Cornerback
Indiana cornerback Jamari Sharpe is no longer the wide-eyed, inexperienced player he once was. With a blend of size, speed, and experience, Sharpe is expected to stand out this fall. 
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — As Sharpe knelt on the 30-yard line, his left knee resting on the ground and helmet in hand, he focused intently on the formations in front of him. He had already completed his drill, but his learning wasn’t over. Watching the second- and third-string defenders run through their formations during Thursday’s practice inside Mellencamp Pavilion, Sharpe was absorbing every moment.
There was a time when he would have been out there with them—but not anymore.
At Big Ten Media Days, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti named Sharpe the projected starter at field cornerback, set to line up opposite All-American boundary corner D’Angelo Ponds. Sharpe now takes the lead in drills for Indiana’s backup cornerbacks, with he and Ponds serving as role models for the younger players on how to perform key techniques like backpedaling, hip-flipping, and planting-and-driving.
While Sharpe is the front-runner for the job, it’s not yet guaranteed. Cignetti noted that Pittsburgh transfer Ryland Gandy and true freshman Jaylen Bell are also competing for meaningful playing time and have impressed during camp. Ponds remarked that both Gandy and Bell have made significant strides since joining the team in the spring, with Bell drawing comparisons to a younger version of himself.
But Sharpe remains in the lead. He’s bigger, more experienced, and has proven to Cignetti and the coaching staff that he’s ready to solidify his spot at the top of the depth chart.
“I think he’s grown a lot and developed as a player,” Cignetti said. “He’s got some guys pushing him, but we’ve got good competition at that field corner spot.”
Sharpe’s path to the starting role hasn’t been easy—it’s something he earned. As Indiana’s top backup corner last season, Sharpe started two regular-season games. The first was in Week 4 against Charlotte when Ponds served a first-half suspension, and the second came in the season finale against Purdue, when Jamier Johnson was sidelined due to injury.
Sharpe made an impact, allowing just two catches for 12 yards on seven targets against Charlotte, and no catches in 27 coverage snaps against Purdue, according to Pro Football Focus. Even with Johnson healthy, the Hoosiers turned to Sharpe when their season was on the line. Though he gave up a 44-yard reception in the fourth quarter, Sharpe allowed just two catches for seven yards in his other 32 pass coverage snaps.
Johnson, who transferred to UCLA, entered the portal in January, but Cignetti emphasized that Indiana didn’t lose anyone they were hoping to keep. With the addition of cornerbacks like Gandy and Bell, the coaching staff’s confidence in Sharpe grew, especially after his strong showing last season.
“Jamari has evolved a lot,” Ponds said. “He’s gotten a lot better since I met him. He’s been fantastic for us, and I think he’s going to have a huge season this year.”
Sharpe, now 22, isn’t new to preseason hype or the chance to start. When he was 19, former head coach Tom Allen praised his athleticism and ability, even giving him the task of defending Ohio State’s deep receiving corps in the season opener. Sharpe went on to start nine of Indiana’s 12 games as a redshirt freshman.
Now, as a more mature and seasoned player, Sharpe is ready to prove he’s reinvented himself. His teammates believe he’s already made huge strides.
“He’s come a long way,” Ponds said. “Jamari’s going to be great for us this year.”
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