Colorado and Deion Sanders in mourning after QB Dominiq Ponder dies at 23 Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died early Sunday morning in a single-car crash in Boulder County, police confirmed. He was 23 years old. The incident occurred when Ponder lost control of his Tesla on a curve, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The vehicle struck a guardrail, then hit an electrical line pole, rolled down an embankment, and caught fire. Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities noted that speed is suspected as a contributing factor in the crash. Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating, “The entire CU Athletics family is devastated at the tragic passing of Dominiq Ponder. 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.” Colorado coach Deion Sanders shared his grief on X, calling Ponder “one of my favorites.” He wrote, “God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones. Dom 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.” Brennan Marion, Colorado’s offensive coordinator, reposted Sanders’s message and described Ponder as a joy to work with. “Getting that call from his dad today didn’t feel real,” Marion posted. “Love you Dom! God cover his family & our team, especially our qb room!” Fellow Colorado quarterback Colton Allen also honored Ponder on Instagram, writing, “Dom, you were a blessing to so many people. You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you.#colorado #deion_sanders #dominiq_ponder #fernando_lovo #brennan_marion
