Colorado QB Dominiq Ponder Dies in Car Crash

University of Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder, a 23-year-old junior from Opa-Locka, Florida, died in a single-car accident early Sunday morning in Boulder County.

The Colorado State Patrol reported that the crash occurred around 3 a.m. on March 1, when the vehicle lost control on a curve, rolled down an embankment and caught fire. Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities believe speed was a factor in the incident, though the investigation remains ongoing.

Ponder had transferred to Colorado in 2024 as a walk-on after playing the 2023 season at Bethune-Cookman University, where he appeared in two games. A graduate of Carol City High School in Florida in 2022, he also attended Myrtle Beach Collegiate Academy in South Carolina before college. Over two seasons with the Buffaloes, Ponder saw limited action, appearing in two games during the 2025 season. He made his Colorado debut on November 1 against Arizona, entering for the final three snaps and going 0-for-1 on a pass attempt. The following week at West Virginia, he played three snaps on kickoff coverage.

News of Ponder's death spread quickly Sunday afternoon, prompting an outpouring of tributes from coaches,...