Credit to: iuhoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.. – The Associated Press announced its All-Big Ten teams on Tuesday (Dec. 10) and five Indiana football student-athletes found their names on the list. Head coach Curt Cignetti was also named the outlets Big Ten Coach of the Year.
The Hoosiers saw the defensive trio of Aiden Fisher, Mikail Kamara and D’Angelo Ponds all garner first-team honors, while Kurtis Rourke and Elijah Sarratt were both second-team selections.
Curt Cignetti
Hayes-Schembechler Big Ten Coach of the Year (coaches)
Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media)
Associated Press Big Ten Coach of the Year
Earned fourth-career coach of the year award from the respective conference office … engineered an eight-game improvement from Indiana’s 2023 to 2024 seasons and currently sits tied for the second-best improvement by a first-year head coach since at least 1996 … First-ever Division I head coach to start 8-0 or better in consecutive seasons at different institutions (James Madison, 10-0 – 2023; Indiana, 11-1 – 2024) … The 11 victories in 2024 are the most in program history and mark the first double-digit win season in Hoosier history … Eight Big Ten wins are the most by an IU team since joining the conference in 1900 … Only Indiana head coach to start a season at least 4-0 and joined the select group of Big Ten coaches that started their Big Ten tenures with 10-0 overall records in the AP Poll Era (since 1936): Ryan Day (Ohio State, 2018-19), Urban Meyer (Ohio State, 2012), Earle Bruce (Ohio State, 1979), Bennie Oosterbaan (Michigan, 1948-49) and Carroll Widdoes (Ohio State, 1944-45).
DEFENSE
Aiden Fisher, LB
All-B1G First Team (Coaches & Media)
Associated Press All-Big Ten First Team
Led the team and ranked third in the Big Ten in total tackles at 108 stops on the season … Started all 12 games and chipped in eight-plus tackles in eight games on the season, with four double-digit tackle games … Had 4.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks … Broke up three passes.
Mikail Kamara, DL
All-B1G First Team (Coaches & Media)
Associated Press All-Big Ten First Team
Finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy … Ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten in sacks (10.0) and tackles for loss (15.0) … Started all 12 games … Totaled 44 total tackles with multiple tackles in 11 of 12 games … Season sack total ranks tied for No. 5 on the IU single-season charts with Adewale Ogunleye (10.0; 1997) … Posted the first double-digit sacks by a Hoosier since Jammie Kirlew in 2008 (10.5) … Posted a tackle for loss in nine of 12 games in 2024 and 30 of 35 career games … Forced two fumbles and recovered three fumbles … Finished atop the Big Ten and No. 2 in the Power 4 in total pressures (64) per Pro Football Focus.
D’Angelo Ponds, DB
All-B1G First Team (Coaches & Media)
Associated Press All-Big Ten First Team
Graded as the No. 3 coverage cornerback in the Big Ten per Pro Football Focus (84.7) … Appeared in all 12 games with 11 starts … Totaled 53 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss … Grabbed two interceptions and broke up nine passes … Returned one interception or a touchdown … Blocked a punt at Michigan State that ended in a safety.
OFFENSE
Kurtis Rourke, QB
All-B1G Second Team (Coaches & Media)
Associated Press All-Big Ten Second Team
Finalist for the Manning Award … Led the nation in passing efficiency (181.4) and is No. 2 in the Big Ten in touchdown passes (27) and fewest interceptions (4) … Started 11 games … Three-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week … Semifinalist for the Maxwell, Walter Camp Award and Davey O’Brien Award … Only Big Ten quarterback since 2000 to throw for 250 yards and at least 3 touchdown passes in their first three conference road games … Threw program-record-tying six touchdown passes against Purdue … Season passing total of 2,827 yards sits No. 7 on the single-season list at IU … Tied for No. 2 on single-season passing touchdowns list … Highest-graded passer (92.9) in the Big Ten per Pro Football Focus.
Elijah Sarratt, WR
All-B1G Third Team (Coaches & Media)
Associated Press All-Big Ten Second Team
Finished No. 5 in the Big Ten in receiving yards (890) and No. 8 in receiving touchdowns (8) … Started all 12 games … Caught 49 passes on the season with 37 going for a first down or touchdown … Season receiving yardage total ranks No. 12 in IU history and season touchdown receptions are tied for No. 10 on IU’s single-season list … Owns a reception in all 37 career games played.
