Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder, a former Bethune-Cookman signal caller, died Saturday night at the age of 23, according to various media reports.
Coach Deion Sanders announced Ponder’s death Sunday in an emotional message on social media, calling the third-year quarterback “one of my favorites” and asking for prayers for Ponder’s family, teammates and friends.
“Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader,” Sanders wrote on X. “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.”
Details surrounding the circumstances of his death remained limited Sunday evening. DNVR Buffs and other outlets reported that Ponder died following a single-car accident, though authorities in Boulder had not publicly released a full report or confirmation as of late Sunday. Several outlets and team officials confirmed only that he died.
An Opa Locka, Florida, native, he played his high school football at Carol City and Naples in Florida, with a stint at Myrtle Beach Collegiate Academy in South Carolina, before signing with Bethune-Cookman University.
He redshirted his freshman season at Bethune-Cookman in 2023, appearing in two games before preserving a year of eligibility. Seeking a new opportunity, Ponder transferred to Colorado in 2024 as Sanders and his staff continued reshaping the Buffaloes’ roster.
Ponder did not see game action during his first season in Boulder in 2024. He made his Buffaloes debut during the 2025 season in a loss to Arizona, registering his first game snaps in a Colorado uniform. A week later, he appeared on special teams, playing three snaps on the kickoff unit against West Virginia.
In limited action last season, he logged two rushing attempts.
