Sophomore quarterback Dominiq Ponder, who played for the Buffaloes at the University of Colorado Boulder, has died in a tragic single-car accident at the age of 23.
The University of Colorado Athletic Department confirmed news of his passing in a statement on March 1, noting the crash occurred earlier that morning.
“The entire CU Athletics family is devastated at the tragic passing of Dominiq Ponder,” Director of Athletics Fernando Lovo said.
“He epitomized the values of passion, enthusiasm, leadership, toughness, and intelligence that were revered by his teammates and coaches alike. Our hearts go out to his family and all of his teammates during this difficult time.”
According to the Colorado State Patrol, at around 3 a.m., Ponder lost control of his 2023 Model Tesla 3 while driving in Boulder County. The vehicle struck an electrical line pole and rolled down an embankment.
Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene, with authorities pointing to a preliminary investigation that shows “speed as a suspected factor” in the crash.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones. Dom was one of my favorites!” Colorado Coach Deion Sanders said in a statement on X.
“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.”
Ponder, who was from Opa Locka, Florida, was slated to begin spring practice on March 2 for his third season as a quarterback for the Buffaloes.
“A joy to be around & coach! gonna be tough but man this one hurts Lord, getting that call from his dad today didn’t feel real,” Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion wrote on social media. “Love you Dom! God cover his family & our team, especially our qb room!”
Ponder entered Colorado as a transfer from Bethune-Cookman and made his collegiate debut against Arizona.
“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” fellow quarterback and teammate Colton Allen wrote alongside a photo tribute. “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.”
During the 2025 season, the 6-foot-5 player appeared in two games, where he attempted one pass and carried the ball twice for a loss of 4 yards.
The Big 12 Conference also offered condolences of their own to the Ponder family on social media, saying their “thoughts are with the entire CU community during this difficult time.”
