Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder dies at 23

Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died at 23, coach Deion Sanders said Sunday.

There was no immediate word from the university on the circumstances surrounding Ponder’s death.

Ponder, a third-year sophomore from Opa Locka, Florida, spent the past two seasons with the program after transferring from Bethune-Cookman. He appeared in two games last season, recording two rushes and a pass attempt, after not playing for the Buffaloes in 2024.

“Dom was one of my favorites!” Sanders wrote 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.”

Fellow Colorado quarterback Colton Allen also paid tribute to Ponder on Instagram.

“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote. “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.”

Colorado is set to open spring practice Monday in Boulder.

Ponder played high school football at Carol City and Naples in Florida, and came to Bethune-Cookman from Myrtle Beach Collegiate Academy in South Carolina.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.