Dominiq Ponder, Colorado’s backup quarterback and one of “Coach Prime’s” self-described favorites, died Saturday night at just 23 years old. According to the Colorado State Patrol, Ponder lost control of his 2023 Tesla while navigating a right-hand curve on Baseline Road in Boulder County around 3 a.m. The car crossed into oncoming lanes, burst through a guardrail, struck an electrical pole, and rolled at least once. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Who Was Dominiq Ponder?
Ponder was a 6-foot-5, 200-pound quarterback from Opa Locka, Florida — one of Deion Sanders‘ “Florida boys” in Boulder. He played his high school ball at Naples High and Carol City High, where 247Sports rated him a three-star prospect. He enrolled at Bethune-Cookman, appeared in two games, took a redshirt year, and then made the call to transfer to Colorado in 2024.
He came in as a walk-on. No scholarship. No guarantee of playing time. He did it anyway. In two seasons with the Buffaloes, Ponder appeared in exactly two games. His collegiate debut came on Nov. 1 against Arizona, where he played the final three snaps of a blowout loss and threw one incompletion. The following week against West Virginia, he logged three snaps on the kickoff unit.
“Dom Was One of My Favorites”
When Sanders speaks about his players, you listen. And when he posted about Ponder on Sunday, the emotion was raw and real.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,” Sanders wrote on X. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”
That’s not a press release. That’s a man grieving someone he genuinely cared about. Fellow backup Quarterback Colton Allen was among the first to share the news publicly. His words hit harder than any headline could.
“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote on Instagram. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life. What happened feels so final. It feels heavy. It hurts.”
Former Colorado Quarterback Ryan Staub was equally shaken. “At a complete loss for words rn,” Staub wrote. “Life isn’t fair and this doesn’t feel real. You were always a pleasure to be around. We motivated each other and kept each other in check. Love you forever and gone way too soon. Fly high, Dom.”
A Leader In the Locker Room
What made Ponder’s story compelling wasn’t his production — it was his presence. As the oldest quarterback in the room heading into 2026, Ponder had assumed a larger leadership role during winter workouts. He was the guy mentoring younger players, setting the tone, holding the room accountable.
The Big 12 Conference issued a statement Sunday evening: “The Big 12 Conference is deeply saddened by the passing of Colorado football student-athlete Dominiq Ponder. We extend our condolences to the Ponder family and Dominiq’s loved ones. Our thoughts are with the entire CU community during this difficult time.”
Spring Practice Goes On — But Nothing Feels Normal
Colorado opens spring camp Monday under Sanders, with a quarterback room that now includes expected starter Julian “JuJu” Lewis, Utah transfer Isaac Wilson, and incoming freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne. The Buffs also made a wave of coaching changes Saturday, including Chris Marve’s promotion to defensive coordinator and the hiring of former NFL Safety Vonn Bell.
But none of that feels particularly important right now. The Buffaloes are going to have to find a way to take the field Monday morning carrying something no depth chart can account for.
