Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder dies at 23

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Dominiq Ponder was the Buffaloes' backup quarterback last season. (AP/David Zalubowski)
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Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died this weekend, head coach Deion Sanders confirmed on Sunday afternoon.

He was 23.

“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends and loved ones,” Sanders wrote on social media. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was loved, respected and a born leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him and had the opportunity to be in his presence.”

God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones. Dom was one of my favorites! 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. #CoachPrimepic.twitter.com/2R7BAVyZ8u

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) March 1, 2026

Specifics of Ponder’s death are not yet known.

Ponder first landed at Colorado in 2024, and he appeared in two games last season just briefly in a backup role. Ponder also spent time at Bethune Cookman before arriving in Boulder, but did not play and redshirted.

Ponder, who came out of Opa Locka, Florida, was an unrated Rivals.com recruit coming out of high school. He made his collegiate debut last season late in the Buffaloes' game against Arizona last season. Ponder was going to try to compete for the starting job this offseason, though Sanders landed Julian Lewis after flipping him late from USC. Lewis was a four-star Rivals.com recruit and the No. 7 quarterback in his class.

The Buffaloes, which went 3-9 last season in Sanders' third run with the program, were set to open spring practice officially on Monday.

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