Indiana football players connect with fans while ‘employed’ at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

Three Indiana football players traded their jerseys for red T-shirts at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers on Thursday.  

Senior receiver Elijah Sarratt, junior defensive back D’Angelo Ponds and redshirt junior Jamari Sharpe visited Cane’s in Bloomington to serve food and meet fans from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

While the restaurant was closed to the public, Cane’s chose around 25 fans to be a part of promotional content for the restaurant. Others waited outside and hoped they would meet the players. 

Following Indiana football’s 27-21 victory over the University of Miami and first College Football Playoff National Championship win Monday, the three players held a press conference to kick off the Cane’s event.  

“I’m glad we’re able to allow these people to have fun,” Sarratt said in the press conference. “I’ve seen Kirkwood packed out after the game, and the fans deserve it. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to have the success that we have.” 

The three were asked if they could define the Indiana football team with one word. Ponds couldn’t come up with one word, so instead he told press what they’re not. 

“A lot of people would say we’re misfits, but I’m not going to go with misfits,” Ponds said. “I think we were just overlooked and underrated.” 

Ponds also confirmed future plans to enter the 2026 NFL Draft and said that he hasn’t officially announced it yet. 

After the conference, Cane’s had the three players film promotional content. This included Sharpe stealing chicken from Sarratt and Ponds while saying “interception” as a reference to his game-clinching interception in the championship. 

The Cane’s advertisement team then ushered Sarratt, Ponds and Sharpe behind the Cane’s counter.   

In front of the menu screens and behind the registers, the three received headsets and pre-assembled Cane’s meals. Four content creators were chosen to stay inside the restaurant after the press conference to be served food.  

One of them, IU senior Gemma Huck, received a Box Combo from Ponds. She said she received an email from her talent manager with the opportunity to meet the football players.  

“It was a cool experience, kind of being able to celebrate the win with the football players and enjoying some great chicken fingers at Cane’s,” Huck said. 

Huck has 2.4 million followers on TikTok and creates lifestyle and trending content.  

Huck was one of the hundreds of Hoosiers that stormed Kirkwood Avenue following the championship win. She said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the best night of her college experience.  

Around 20 fans were chosen by Cane’s to stand outside the walk-up window, where the three players took turns opening the window and handing out free Combo Boxes, sweet tea and lemonade.  

Outside the front of the restaurant, around 100 more fans waited near a black temporary stage. Sharpe, Ponds and Sarratt finished their afternoon by taking the stage, chanting “Hoo, Hoo, Hoo Hoosiers” as the athletes walked out. 

They stopped to take photos, sign jerseys and posters and speak with fans. Junior Brian Martinez-Ayala waited an hour to see Sarratt, Ponds and Sharpe. 

“I love them,” Martinez-Ayala said. “I love everything they’ve done for us, the Hoosier nation and everything.” 

Junior Isaac Mozingo said he remembers when he would leave Indiana football games during halftime because the team was losing, but this year he went to the championship game in Miami Gardens, Florida. He said his freshman year self wouldn’t have believed where Indiana football is now.  

“Seeing them out here, it means a lot to not just the IU fanbase but also means a lot to the community that they would do something like this,” Mozingo said.