Dominiq Ponder remembered by Colorado players and coaches as a great friend, teammate

It was a tragic weekend for Colorado football after the program announced that quarterback Dominiq Ponder died in a single-car accident in Boulder County over the weekend. He was just 23 years old.

Ponder, a redshirt sophomore, arrived at the program after stints with Georgia Tech and Bethune-Cookman. He appeared in two games for the Buffaloes last season. 

According to the reports from the Colorado State Patrol, Ponder lost control of his 2023 Tesla Model S going around a curve. The vehicle traveled into the opposite (eastbound) lane and struck a guardrail before and an electrical line pole before eventually catching fire.

Colorado players and coaches remember Dominiq Ponder

Ponder didn't play much in his two seasons with the Buffaloes, but it's clear that he was a respected and beloved teammate, as seen by the response that came in all weekend from players and coaches.

New offensive coordinator Brennan Marion posted his thoughts on 'X' and the tough news of receiving the phone call from Ponder's family.

Quarterback Colton Allen posted some very poignant thoughts on his I nstagram page, which gave a glimpse of the relationship that the two teammates had and how they were able to pick each other up during tough times.

"Dom, you were a blessing to so many people. You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you," Allen stated in his post. "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."

Head coach Deion Sanders also shared his thoughts on X, offering his prayers and support for Ponder's family. 

Ponder played his high school football in Naples, Florida, helping the Naple Golden Eagles make some deep runs in the state playoffs during his three years as a starter. He was originally from Opa Locka, Florida, which is about 10 miles north of Miami.