Dominiq Ponder died Sunday at the age of 23. (Photo Courtesy of CU Athletics)
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Boulder Police responded to the crash. It was the Colorado State Patrol that responded and issued the statement.
Dominiq Ponder, a backup quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, died Sunday morning in a single-car crash. He was 23.
“The entire CU Athletics family is devastated at the tragic passing of Dominiq Ponder,” Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo said in a statement. “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.”
Ponder spent two seasons with the Buffs, after transferring from Bethune-Cookman and Georgia Tech, and redshirted his first year before making his debut against Arizona in 2025.
The crash occurred in Boulder County around 3 a.m. MT, according to Colorado State Patrol and ESPN. Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene, and police are conducting an investigation, although stated in a preliminary report that they suspect speed was a factor.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders posted a tribute to Ponder on X.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,” he wrote. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader.”
Several others, including Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, CU quarterback Colton Allen and the Big 12 Conference shared condolences and messages. Ponder’s family has requested privacy during this time.
Ponder’s death came one day before CU began open spring practices. According to ESPN, Sanders gave his players the option to cancel Monday’s practice, but they chose to come together to support each other, saying it’s what Ponder would have wanted.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Lila Nuttle at lila.nuttle@colorado.edu.
